What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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	Exeter
People
Population	28,164Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH
	Exeter 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 NH: 18.2%	17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Merrimack and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	59.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%
	Exeter 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±$16kHighest 28% above NH	$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH
	Merrimack and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH	$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH
	Merrimack and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH	$1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH
	Merrimack and Exeter 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	$8,814Highest 32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	25 minLowest 7% below NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Merrimack and Exeter 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	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 photos →

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.