What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).

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	Nashua	Merrimack
People
Population	91,294Highest	28,164Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH	41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH
	Merrimack and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Merrimack and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1Highest NH: 20.1%	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Nashua and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6%
	Merrimack and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average	$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average	$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Lowest 16% above NH	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Lowest about the NH average	$7,345Highest 10% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2%	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Nashua and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Merrimack and Nashua 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	#67 of 120 in NH	#58 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashua School District	Merrimack School District
High school in town	Nashua High School South	Merrimack High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.5Lowest
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.