What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).

Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Eliot
People
Population	28,164Highest	7,146Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.	50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Merrimack and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S.	$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Eliot 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.	$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S.
	Eliot and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Lowest 37% above U.S.	$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S.
	Eliot and Merrimack 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.	$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Eliot and Merrimack 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%	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Merrimack and Eliot 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	#19 of 133 in ME
School district	Merrimack School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Merrimack High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5	—
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.