What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

Hudson has the most affordable homes ($366k 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	Hudson
People
Population	28,164Highest	7,469Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	46.3±3.4Highest 7% above NH
	Hudson 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 NH: 18.2%	14.8%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	20%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hudson 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 NH: 40.6%	28.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	5.2%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Hudson 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±$16kHighest 28% above NH	$95,842±$19kLowest 3% below NH
	Merrimack and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH	$366,400±$24kLowest 9% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH	$1,722±$86Lowest 15% above NH
	Merrimack and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Highest 10% above NH	$5,729Lowest 14% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2%	34.9%±10.5 NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	73.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	19.3%±7.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Merrimack and Hudson 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	#63 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.