What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).

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	25,557Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%	16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.7%±2.4Highest 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%	34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	7%±1.7Highest 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	$124,213±$6kLowest 25% above 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	$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH
	Merrimack and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH	$1,735±$123Lowest 16% 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	$6,636Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Highest NH: 48.2%	34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Merrimack and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	31 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	19.6%±3.6Lowest 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	Hudson School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.6Lowest
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.