What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

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	Lunenburg
People
Population	28,164Highest	11,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.	43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S.
	Lunenburg 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 U.S.: 22%	21.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Merrimack and Lunenburg 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%	17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lunenburg 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimack and Lunenburg 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.	$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Lunenburg 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.	$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Lunenburg 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 37% above U.S.	$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Merrimack 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.	$6,401Lowest 105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lunenburg and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Merrimack and Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack School District	Lunenburg
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Lunenburg High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.