Compare towns
Merrimack vs Pepperell 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Pepperell | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
11,663Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%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% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Amherst 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 135% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | North Middlesex | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.