Compare towns
Merrimack vs Mapleton vs Nashua
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 highest household income ($127k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164 |
1,884Lowest |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Merrimack 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mapleton and Nashua 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5k 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$403,900±$11k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,737±$41 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,799 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nashua 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Merrimack and Nashua 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 | — | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | None in town | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.