What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Merrimack	Douglas
People
Population	28,164Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Douglas and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Merrimack and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Merrimack and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Douglas and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kLowest 58% above U.S.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
	Douglas and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Douglas and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Highest 135% above U.S.	$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimack and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Merrimack and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#58 of 120 in NH	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack School District	Douglas
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.