What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).

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
People
Population	28,164Highest	10,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%	14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Merrimack and Hampton 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	$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH	$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH	$1,654±$93Lowest 11% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Highest 10% above NH	$6,872Lowest 3% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton 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%	4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Merrimack and Hampton 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	#31 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 History	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.