Compare towns
Merrimack vs Hampton vs Pelham
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 affordable homes ($459k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Hampton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
16,426 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham 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±$16k 28% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampton 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 |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 10% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Winnacunnet High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.