What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

Merrimack has the highest household income ($127k).

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	Stowe	Merrimack
People
Population	5,285Lowest	28,164Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Stowe and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.	$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.	$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S.	$7,345Highest 135% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	34.9%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimack and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe 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
School district	Stowe Town School District	Merrimack School District
High school in town	Stowe High School	Merrimack High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.5Highest
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.