What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).

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	Rupert
People
Population	28,164Highest	676Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimack and Rupert 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 58% above U.S.	$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kHighest 38% above U.S.	$362,500±$63kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147 37% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Highest 135% above U.S.	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimack and Rupert 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%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Merrimack and Rupert 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	—
School district	Merrimack School District	—
High school in town	Merrimack High School	—
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.