What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).

Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Merrimack	Groton
People
Population	28,164Highest	11,390Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.2Highest 7% above U.S.	41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Groton 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 U.S.: 17.2%	17.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Groton and Merrimack 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 U.S.: 35.7%	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Groton 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±$16kLowest 58% above U.S.	$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S.	$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.	$1,458±$335Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Lowest 135% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.8%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Groton 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%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Groton 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	#39 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack School District	Groton-Dunstable
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Groton Dunstable Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	13.7Highest
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.