What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).

Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover
People
Population	28,164Highest	8,479Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH	21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%	9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hanover 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 NH: 40.6%	89.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH	$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH
	Hanover 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	$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Lowest 30% above NH	$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH
	Hanover and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Lowest 10% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	19 minLowest 29% below NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hanover 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	#1 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.