Compare towns
Merrimack vs Dunbarton vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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.
| Measure | Merrimack | Dunbarton | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
3,097Lowest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Merrimack 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 NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Merrimack and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
| Litchfield and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,273Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Dunbarton School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | None in town | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.