Compare towns
Merrimack vs Exeter vs Londonderry
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 most kids (22% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Londonderry has the most expensive homes ($505k median).
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 | Londonderry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
16,151Lowest |
26,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.7±0.9 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Londonderry 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% |
20.6%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and Londonderry 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1Lowest 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 |
$132,556±$14kHighest 34% above NH |
| Londonderry 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 |
$505,200±$20kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,803±$154Lowest 21% 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 |
$8,069 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±7.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Londonderry and Merrimack 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 | #37 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Londonderry School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Exeter High School | Londonderry Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
12.1 |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.