HomeNew HampshireMerrimack County
Merrimack County, New Hampshire: commercial real estate data.
Merrimack County, New Hampshire had an estimated 157,869 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 153,805, across 934 square miles. County output reached $13.79 bn in 2024, 4,213 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 347 7(a) approvals worth $89.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Merrimack County
How many people live in Merrimack County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024155,967
- Households60,901
- Average household size2.56
- Median household income$97,004
- Median age42.9
- Median gross rent$1,360 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$367,600
- Home value to household income3.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher38.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree16.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over113,343
- Population under 1828,657
- Share under 1818.4 percent
- Population 65 and over31,061
- Share 65 and over19.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6496,249
- Civilian labor force84,301
- Unemployment rate3.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.2 percent
- Rank by population among New Hampshire counties3rd of 10
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included446th of 3,222
Merrimack County is the 3rd largest of 10 New Hampshire counties by population. A median home costs 3.8 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 19.9 percent against 18.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Merrimack County
Is Merrimack County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024157,869
- Census 2020 base population153,805
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.64 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024810
- Births, 20241,277
- Deaths, 20241,683
- Natural change, 2024-406
- Net domestic migration, 2024887
- Net international migration, 2024325
- Total net migration, 20241,212
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20244,099
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents969th of 3,144
The county has grown 2.64 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Merrimack County
Where are people moving to Merrimack County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving5,047
- People arriving, from those returns8,082
- Tax returns filed by households leaving4,468
- Net household movement579
- Adjusted gross income arriving$438.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$88.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$86,915
- Average income of a leaving household$78,365
- Largest single originHillsborough County (1,464 households)
- Largest single destinationHillsborough County (1,083 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | 1,464 | 2,297 | $99.6 m |
| Rockingham County | 511 | 793 | $41.1 m |
| Belknap County | 429 | 724 | $20.6 m |
| Grafton County | 190 | 278 | $12.9 m |
| Middlesex County | 178 | 264 | $34.3 m |
| Strafford County | 141 | 216 | $9.4 m |
| Essex County | 113 | 194 | $9.6 m |
| Sullivan County | 113 | 196 | $10.4 m |
Households arriving report $8,550 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Hillsborough County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Merrimack County
What is the Merrimack County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$13.79 bn
- County GDP, 2023$12.95 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.5 percent
- GDP change over five years33.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New Hampshire areas BEA publishes3rd of 10
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes343rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$88,431
Output grew 6.5 percent in the latest year and 33.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Merrimack County
Employment by industry in Merrimack County
- Covered employment, annual average77,147
- Establishments reporting5,546
- Average annual pay$68,857
- Average weekly wage$1,324
- Health care and social assistance, employment11,818
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$71,553
- Retail trade, employment8,949
- Retail trade, average annual pay$44,080
- Manufacturing, employment5,577
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$77,753
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,422
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$29,221
- Construction, employment3,927
- Wholesale trade, employment3,912
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 11,818 | 425 | $71,553 |
| Retail trade | 8,949 | 517 | $44,080 |
| Manufacturing | 5,577 | 198 | $77,753 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,422 | 344 | $29,221 |
| Construction | 3,927 | 578 | $82,830 |
| Wholesale trade | 3,912 | 250 | $94,952 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 3,522 | 551 | $107,402 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 3,515 | 392 | $65,784 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 11,818 jobs, 15.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Merrimack County
How many businesses are in Merrimack County?
- Establishments, all industries4,213
- Employment at those establishments62,841
- Annual payroll$3.79 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Merrimack County
Building permits in Merrimack County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024355
- Declared construction value permitted$110.2 m
- Single family units authorized288
- Multifamily units authorized67
- Multifamily share of units18.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$310,426
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.8
Single-family homes are 81.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Merrimack County
SBA loans in Merrimack County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded347
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$89.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$258,713
- Median 7(a) approval$87,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$525,800
- Largest single approval$4,660,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,302
- Jobs per approval6.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active45
- Distinct industries receiving approvals151
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer3.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms13
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter330
- Franchise loans16
- Franchise share of approvals4.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLandscaping Services (28)
- Most active lenderMerrimack County Savings Bank (80)
- 504 approvals recorded158
- 504 gross approval dollars$64.9 m
- Average 504 approval$410,918
- Median 504 approval$255,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval6.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.6
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (78)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$154.7 m
The average approval of $258,713 sits well above the median of $87,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 3.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Merrimack County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Merrimack County
Do SBA loans in Merrimack County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded93
- Paid in full91
- Charged off2
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans2.2 percent
- Status: Paid in full91
- Status: Cancelled28
- Status: Exempt from disclosure198
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed28
- Status: Charged off2
Of the 93 loans that have reached a final outcome, 2.2 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Merrimack County
SBA lending by place in Merrimack County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending27
- Concord, approvals116
- Hooksett, approvals40
- Bow, approvals28
- Epsom, approvals15
- Henniker, approvals13
- Hopkinton, approvals13
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Concord | 116 | $28,079,400 |
| Hooksett | 40 | $16,046,200 |
| Bow | 28 | $13,703,400 |
| Epsom | 15 | $4,006,200 |
| Henniker | 13 | $1,141,500 |
| Hopkinton | 13 | $1,040,500 |
| New London | 12 | $2,267,300 |
| Pittsfield | 12 | $1,544,100 |
| 19 other borrower cities | 98 | $21,944,700 |
Concord accounts for 116 approvals against 40 in Hooksett. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Merrimack County
How large is Merrimack County?
- Land area934 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New Hampshire counties3rd of 10
- Width, east to west42.9 mi
- Height, north to south40.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land167
- Establishments per square mile4.51
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Merrimack County
Flood risk in Merrimack County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book27
- Of those, participating in the NFIP27
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Merrimack County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Merrimack County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Merrimack County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Merrimack County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024155,967
- Households60,901
- Average household size2.56
- Median household income$97,004
- Median age42.9
Common questions
Merrimack County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Merrimack County, New Hampshire?
The Census Bureau estimates 157,869 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 155,967, in 60,901 households, ranking 3rd of 10 New Hampshire counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Merrimack County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.64 percent since the 2020 census base of 153,805, to 157,869 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,277 births against 1,683 deaths, with net migration of 1,212. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Merrimack County?
$97,004. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $367,600, which is 3.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,360 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Merrimack County?
4,213 establishments, employing 62,841 people with an annual payroll of $3.79 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Merrimack County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 11,818 jobs, 15.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 77,147 jobs at an average annual pay of $68,857, or $1,324 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Merrimack County?
347 7(a) approvals totaling $89.8 m since FY2020, across 45 lenders, with a median approval of $87,000, plus 158 504 approvals worth $64.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Merrimack County get paid back?
Of the 93 loans that have reached a final outcome, 91 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge-off rate of 2.2 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Merrimack County?
355 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $110.2 m. Multifamily was 18.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Merrimack County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Merrimack County come from?
The largest single origin is Hillsborough County, with 1,464 households. Arriving households report an average income of $86,915 against $78,365 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Merrimack County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Merrimack County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Merrimack County
Cities and places in Merrimack.
14 Census places lie wholly or partly in Merrimack County. All 14 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord | city | 44,375 | 116 | Wholly in this county |
| Franklin | city | 8,799 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| South Hooksett | CDP | 5,902 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hooksett | CDP | 5,876 | 40 | Wholly in this county |
| Suncook | CDP | 5,432 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tilton Northfield | CDP | 3,101 | None recorded | 33.2 percent here, 66.8 percent Belknap County |
| Henniker | CDP | 2,993 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Pittsfield | CDP | 1,744 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Contoocook | CDP | 1,376 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| New London | CDP | 1,278 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Loudon | CDP | 614 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Bradford | CDP | 404 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Warner | CDP | 341 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Blodgett Landing | CDP | 100 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 118 of the county's 347 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Merrimack County, the largest being Bow (28), Epsom (15), Hopkinton (13). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.