Compare towns
Merrimack vs Lunenburg vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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.
| Measure | Merrimack | Lunenburg | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
11,902Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lunenburg and Hooksett 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% 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±$147 37% above U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% 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. |
$6,554 110% 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% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Hooksett 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Lunenburg | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
12.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.