Compare towns
Merrimack vs Windham vs Pelham vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Pelham has the most renters (13.3% 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 | Windham | Pelham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
16,038 |
14,449 |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham 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±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 15% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Windham School District | Pelham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Windham High School | Pelham High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.