What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).

Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Merrimack	Stratham
People
Population	28,164Highest	7,754Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH
	Stratham and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Stratham 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 NH: 20.1%	20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Stratham and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	69.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Merrimack and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH	$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH
	Stratham 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 14% above NH	$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Lowest 30% above NH	$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Lowest 10% above NH	$9,781Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stratham and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Highest NH: 7.2%	2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Stratham and Merrimack 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	#43 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	None in town
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.