Compare towns
Merrimack vs Hanson vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hanson | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
10,660Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% 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%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Hooksett 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% 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±$15k 38% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% 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. |
$6,554 110% 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% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Whitman-Hanson | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.