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Top 50 rank: 23
Population: 25,686
Merrimack is increasingly a hot spot for jobs. The town is home to military engineering firm Nanocorp, a range of startups and, soon, the headquarters of medical device manufacturer Atrium Medical. Visitors and residents alike are drawn to the Anheuser-Busch factory, and a premium outlet mall opened on the outskirts of town last year, bringing new jobs and tourists.
Several parks, a strong youth-recreation program, and proximity to the Merrimack River keep residents busy year-round. --K.F.
| Median family income (per year) | $99,434 |
| Job growth % (2010-2012) | 4.52% |
| Median home price (2012) | $184,764 |
| Reading test scores (% above/below average) | 4.2% |
| Math test scores (% above/below average) | 8.2% |
| Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) | 0 |
| Property crime incidents (per 1,000) | 10 |
Financials | |
| Median family income (per year) | $99,434 |
| Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted) | $83,062 |
| Sales tax (state) | 0.00% |
| State income tax rate (highest bracket) | 0.00% |
| State income tax rate (lowest bracket) | 0.00% |
| Auto insurance premiums (Average price quotes, for the state) | $1,452 |
| Job growth % (2010-2012) | 4.52% |
Housing |
| Median home price (2012) | $184,764 |
| Average property taxes (2012) | $2,394 |
Education |
| Colleges, universities and professional schools (within 30 miles) | 21 |
| Reading test scores (% above/below state average) | 4.2% |
| Test scores math (% above/below average) | 8.2% |
| % students attending public/private schools (located within town limits) | 90.2/9.8 |
Quality of life |
| Air quality index* (% of days AQI ranked as good) | 88.3% |
| Personal crime incidents (per 1,000) | 0 |
| Property crime incidents (per 1,000) | 10 |
| Median commute time (in minutes) | 22.0 |
| % population with commute 45 mins. or longer | 16.6% |
| % population walk or bike to work | 0.8% |
Leisure and culture |
| Movie theaters (within 15 miles) | 13 |
| Restaurants (within 15 miles) | 982 |
| Bars (within 15 miles) | 86 |
| Public golf courses (within 30 miles) | 122 |
| Libraries (within 15 miles) | 29 |
| Museums (accredited by AAM; within 30 miles) | 8 |
| Ski resorts (within 100 miles) | N.A. |
| Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts) | 0.6 |
Weather |
| Annual rainfall (inches) | 37.6 |
| % clear days in the area | 55% |
| High temp in July ° F | 82.5° |
| Low temp in Jan ° F | 12.1° |
Meet the neighbors |
| Median age | 40.2 |
| Completed at least some college (% of residents) | 67.3% |
| Married % | 62.1% |
| Divorced % | 7.9% |
| Racial diversity index (100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity) | 19.6 |
