What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).

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	Litchfield
People
Population	28,164Highest	8,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	43.1±1.7Highest about the NH average
	Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Merrimack and Litchfield 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%	46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Merrimack and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH	$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH	$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH
	Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Lowest 30% above NH	$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH
	Litchfield and Merrimack 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	$8,273Highest 24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Highest NH: 7.2%	1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	21%±3.3 NH: 16.8%	21%±5.1 NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#58 of 120 in NH	#53 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack School District	Litchfield School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Campbell High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.4Lowest
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.