Merrimack

Hillsborough Countyβ€’Merrimack Valleyβ€’Population: 26,632

Overview

Merrimack has evolved from a rural farming community into one of southern New Hampshire's most desirable towns, successfully balancing residential quality with commercial development. Located in Hillsborough County along the Merrimack River and Route 3, the town offers easy access to Manchester and Nashua while maintaining a strong community identity. Merrimack's excellent school system consistently ranks among the state's best, making it particularly attractive to families.

The town's Premium Outlets and commercial corridor along Route 3 provide significant tax revenue, helping keep residential property taxes relatively moderate while funding excellent services. Merrimack offers abundant recreational opportunities, including the Merrimack River Outdoor Education and Conservation Area (MROECA), numerous playing fields, and community programs. The town center retains its New England character with the historic Congregational Church and town common.

Merrimack's neighborhoods feature primarily single-family homes, with newer developments offering modern amenities and established areas providing mature landscaping and larger lots. The town's location provides convenient access to employment centers while offering a more residential, family-oriented atmosphere than nearby cities. For families prioritizing schools, safety, and community, Merrimack represents one of southern New Hampshire's premier choices.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’Top schools
  • β€’Safe neighborhoods
  • β€’Family-oriented
  • β€’Good location

βœ— Cons

  • β€’High housing costs
  • β€’Limited downtown
  • β€’Traffic

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Merrimack.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$22.11
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$14.81
Equalization ratio: 67%
Municipal
$4.38
Local School
$14.96
State Education
$1.44
County
$1.33

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$22.11$14.81$4.38$14.96$1.44$1.33

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$5,528$461
$350,000$7,739$645
$500,000$11,055$921
$750,000$16,583$1,382
$1,000,000$22,110$1,843

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $22.11 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
81.9Β°F
Winter Avg High
38.3Β°F
Annual Snowfall
44.7 in
Annual Rainfall
49.2 in
Sunny Days/Year
264
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
49 mi
~74 min drive
Manchester
12 mi
~26 min drive
Portsmouth
58 mi
~78 min drive
Concord
31 mi
~45 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
9/10
Crime Rate
6.23/1,000
Crime Trend
stable
Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer - https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/ β€’ Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
42/100
Trail Miles
41.2
0
Boat Launches
7
State Parks
1
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:1

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$121,489
Per Capita Income
$53,049
Median Family Income
$135,426

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$378,200
Median Rent
$1,585/mo
Homeownership Rate
88.87%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
3.26%
In Labor Force
15,842
Work From Home
0.36%

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.97%
Total with Degree
5,597

πŸš—Commute

Work From Home
0.36%

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
41.8 years
Avg Household Size
2.64 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Merrimack

45 registered condo associations β€” offering active low-maintenance living options.

All 45 condo associationsβ–Ό

Source: Hillsborough County Audit - AI Discovery (data as of August 2026)

Compare Merrimack with Other Towns

See how Merrimack stacks up against other NH communities.