Compare towns
Merrimack vs Ogunquit vs Pelham vs Amherst
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 affordable homes ($459k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Pelham has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Pelham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
1,379Lowest |
14,449 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 58% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Pelham 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
— | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 135% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% 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% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Amherst 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | — | Pelham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | — | Pelham High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.