Compare towns
Merrimack vs Milford vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Milford | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
16,337 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Newfields 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Merrimack and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$16k 28% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Merrimack and Newfields 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Milford School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.