What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).

Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).

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	Hanson
People
Population	28,164Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.	42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S.
	Hanson and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Merrimack and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimack and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kLowest 58% above U.S.	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.
	Hanson 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 38% above U.S.	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.	$1,821±$860Lowest 29% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Highest 135% above U.S.	$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#58 of 120 in NH	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack School District	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.