Compare towns
Merrimack vs Ogunquit vs Goffstown
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 kids (22% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Ogunquit | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
1,379Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
— | $1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 120 in NH | — | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | — | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | — | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.