1st Advantage MortgageIn Merrimack County, New Hampshire, the typical household earns $97,004 a year and the typical rent is $1,360. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Merrimack County by the numbers
- Employment and commuting in Merrimack County
- Paychecks and income spread in Merrimack County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Merrimack County
- Merrimack County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Merrimack County
- A Merrimack County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Merrimack County
- More Merrimack County figures
- A Merrimack County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in New Hampshire
- More guides for Merrimack County
- Frequently asked questions
Merrimack County by the numbers
Merrimack County is home to about 155,967 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 3rd most populous of 10 county-level areas in New Hampshire. It covers 933 square miles of land, or about 167 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Merrimack County is not part of any metropolitan area. Concord is the biggest of its 31 Census places, at roughly 44,375 people (28% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Merrimack County
The biggest employer of Merrimack County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Compared with New Hampshire, the county leans toward public administration (7% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Merrimack County | Gap to New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.7% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | -3.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Paychecks and income spread in Merrimack County
Merrimack County households have a median income of $97,004 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 3rd of 10 in New Hampshire.
| Households earning | Merrimack County | +/- vs New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.2% | +0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.2% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.4% | +1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.1% | -2.7 pts |
Some 16% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 49% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 7.6%, the same as the state's 7.2%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.440 here. For a borrower in Merrimack County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Rent, home values and ownership in Merrimack County
Renters in Merrimack County pay a median of $1,360 a month, 9% below the New Hampshire figure of $1,491. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. With a median value of $367,600, a typical Merrimack County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 73% of homes. Median construction year: 1977.
| Measure | Merrimack County | New Hampshire | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,360/mo | $1,491/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $367,600 | $402,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 28% | n/a |
Because most Merrimack County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Merrimack County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 31 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 91% of Merrimack County residents live in one of the 31. Bow has the highest median household income on the list ($172,857) and Pittsfield the lowest ($60,144), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Loudon ($596) and steepest in Canterbury ($2,136). Live in one of these Merrimack County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord | city | 44,375 | $84,902 | $1,441 | 8 mi |
| Franklin | city | 8,799 | $71,648 | $1,110 | 11 mi |
| Bow | town | 8,335 | $172,857 | $1,539 | 14 mi |
| Pembroke | town | 7,438 | $89,519 | $1,218 | 15 mi |
| Hopkinton | town | 6,037 | $137,477 | $1,270 | 7 mi |
| South Hooksett | CDP | 5,902 | $130,000 | $1,471 | 23 mi |
| Hooksett | CDP | 5,876 | $101,053 | $1,811 | 18 mi |
| Suncook | CDP | 5,432 | $79,836 | $1,091 | 16 mi |
| Northfield | town | 4,971 | $92,917 | $1,076 | 9 mi |
| Epsom | town | 4,939 | $97,941 | $1,212 | 18 mi |
| Allenstown | town | 4,743 | $72,500 | $1,281 | 18 mi |
| Boscawen | town | 4,044 | $77,328 | $1,265 | 1 mi |
| Dunbarton | town | 3,097 | $124,348 | $1,166 | 13 mi |
| Henniker | CDP | 2,993 | $76,326 | $1,056 | 11 mi |
Regional comparison for Merrimack County
Six nearby counties, 20 to 39 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $80,858 in Sullivan County to $118,331 in Rockingham County; 2 of these neighbors top Merrimack County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack County | - | $97,004 | $1,360/mo | 73% |
| Belknap County, NH | 20 mi | $92,783 | $1,167/mo | 80% |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 27 mi | $103,545 | $1,623/mo | 67% |
| Sullivan County, NH | 28 mi | $80,858 | $1,211/mo | 75% |
| Strafford County, NH | 32 mi | $88,570 | $1,488/mo | 67% |
| Rockingham County, NH | 36 mi | $118,331 | $1,687/mo | 78% |
| Cheshire County, NH | 39 mi | $83,329 | $1,276/mo | 73% |
A Merrimack County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Merrimack County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $97,004 a year is $8,084 of gross monthly income
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,360)
- $1,550: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,116 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Merrimack County
What the Merrimack County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Higher earners. 49% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Merrimack County borrower sees (free reports).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
More Merrimack County figures
39% of Merrimack County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Merrimack County | All of New Hampshire | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 43.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.9% | 40.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 5.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 5.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 3.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
A Merrimack County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Merrimack County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in New Hampshire
Before sharing details with a lender, a Merrimack County resident can confirm its license with the New Hampshire Banking Department. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the New Hampshire state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Merrimack County
The New Hampshire guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Merrimack County household make?
About $97,004 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 2% below the New Hampshire median.
How much is rent in Merrimack County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,360 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Merrimack County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 31 Census places: Concord, Franklin, Bow, Pembroke, Hopkinton.
Does living in Merrimack County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Merrimack County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Merrimack County residents?
The New Hampshire Banking Department licenses consumer lenders in New Hampshire; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.