What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).

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	Milford	Merrimack
People
Population	16,337Lowest	28,164Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH	41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH
	Merrimack and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%	22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Milford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Merrimack and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6%
	Merrimack and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average	$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH
	Merrimack and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average	$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH
	Merrimack and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,522Highest 13% above NH	$7,345Lowest 10% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2%	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Milford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Merrimack and Milford 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	#55 of 120 in NH	#58 of 120 in NH
School district	Milford School District	Merrimack School District
High school in town	Milford High School	Merrimack High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.5Highest
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.