What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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	Topsfield
People
Population	28,164Highest	6,564Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.	42.2±1.8Highest 8% above U.S.
	Topsfield 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 U.S.: 22%	24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Topsfield 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%	22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimack and Topsfield 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 58% above U.S.	$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S.	$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.	$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Lowest 135% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Topsfield 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%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Topsfield 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	#172 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack School District	Topsfield
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

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.