Compare towns
Merrimack vs Groton vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Groton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
11,390Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest 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%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Groton 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Groton 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Groton-Dunstable | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
13.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.