Compare towns
Merrimack vs Exeter vs Nashua
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 homeowners (88.9%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164 |
16,151Lowest |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below 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% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and Nashua 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% |
16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$223 24% above NH |
$1,737±$41Lowest 16% 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 | $7,345 10% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,799Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest 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 | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Exeter High School | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.