What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.7%±2.8Highest 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%	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% 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	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Lowest 30% above NH	$2,253±$217Highest 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%	66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	20 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.4%±5Highest 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	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	10.7Lowest
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.