What stands out worked out from the figures below

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Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Merrimack	Lebanon
People
Population	28,164Highest	14,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH	38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH
	Merrimack and Lebanon 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%	14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Lebanon 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	$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH	$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH	$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH
	Merrimack and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Lowest 10% above NH	$8,149Highest 22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lebanon and Merrimack 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%	7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	14 minLowest 48% below NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack School District	Lebanon School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.