Compare towns
Merrimack vs Exeter vs Amherst
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 youngest population (median age 41.5).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Exeter | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
16,151 |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Merrimack 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% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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±$16k 28% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst 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±$15k 14% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Exeter High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.