What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).

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	Jericho
People
Population	28,164Highest	5,114Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.	49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Merrimack and Jericho 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%	20.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jericho 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 U.S.: 35.7%	65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimack and Jericho 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 58% above U.S.	$116,923±$16kLowest 45% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Jericho 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.	$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S.
	Jericho and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.	$1,731±$111Lowest 23% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Jericho 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.	$7,318Lowest 135% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jericho 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%	0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jericho 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	#6 of 70 in VT
School district	Merrimack School District	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Mt. Mansfield Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.