What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).

Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Merrimack	Norwich
People
Population	28,164Highest	3,640Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.2Highest 7% above U.S.	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich 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 U.S.: 17.2%	16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Merrimack and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimack and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kLowest 58% above U.S.	$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Norwich and Merrimack 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.	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.	$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Lowest 135% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimack and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1%	21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#58 of 120 in NH	#1 of 70 in VT
School district	Merrimack School District	Norwich School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5	—
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.