Compare towns
Salem vs Amherst vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Salem | Amherst | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
11,861Lowest |
28,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Merrimack and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Salem and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.4Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.