Compare towns
Merrimack vs Milford vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% 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 | Milford | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
16,337 |
9,463Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Merrimack and Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Merrimack and Newmarket 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Newmarket 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±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Merrimack and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Merrimack and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack and Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Milford School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Milford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.7 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.