What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Hampton Beach
People
Population	28,164Highest	2,605Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%	3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	34%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH	$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH	$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH
	Hampton Beach and Merrimack 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	$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Highest 10% above NH	$6,115Lowest 8% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton Beach and Merrimack 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%	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	25 minLowest 5% below NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hampton Beach 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	—
School district	Merrimack School District	—
High school in town	Merrimack High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.