What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).

South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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	South Hooksett
People
Population	28,164Highest	5,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH	35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%	16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Merrimack and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Merrimack and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH	$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH
	South Hooksett 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±$15kHighest 14% above NH	$433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH
	Merrimack and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH	$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Highest 10% above NH	$6,801Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±25Highest NH: 48.2%
	South Hooksett and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985 6 yrs newer than NH	1985 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
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

NH 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.