County housing & cost profile

Merrimack County, NH

Official Fair Market Rent from HUD and childcare costs from the U.S. Department of Labor for Merrimack County - a 2-bedroom benchmarks at $1,974/month against the county's $88,806 median household income, the housing figures the federal government publishes at true county resolution.

Compiled byPlainCompare Editorial, PlainCompare Editorial Team · Updated May 16, 2026

#2,576
of 3,222 counties for affordability: $1,974
2-BR Fair Market Rent: $14,926
Infant care / yr: $88,806
Median income

Verify: HUD FMR · DOL childcare · Census ACS

The verdict

A 2-bedroom at HUD's Fair Market Rent costs $23,688 a year in Merrimack County, about 27% of the county's median household income, under the 30% line HUD uses to flag a housing-cost burden.

$1,974
2-BR Fair Market Rent / mo: 27%
of median income on rent: $88,806
median household income: $14,926
infant care / yr

Affordability gauge

Rent burden in Merrimack County

A 2-bedroom at HUD's Fair Market Rent takes 27% of the county's median household income, HUD flags anything above 30% as a housing-cost burden.

30% burden line

27%

0% · more affordable severely burdened · 50%+

Nationally, that ranks Merrimack County #2,576 of 3,222 US counties on rent-to-income affordability, more affordable than 20% of counties with comparable HUD and Census data.

Every figure here comes from official federal data, reported at the county level for the two costs that are actually measured that finely. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rent is set each fiscal year to anchor Housing Choice Voucher payment standards across all 3,224 U.S. counties; the childcare estimates are drawn from the U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices, and median household income comes from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Cost of living, wages, crime, schools and environment are published only at the state tier, read those on the state profile below.

Fair Market Rent in Merrimack County

By unit size, FY2026 - the benchmark that sets Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents.

Childcare costs in Merrimack County

Annual center-based cost by age band. Source: U.S. Department of Labor National Database of Childcare Prices.

The wider picture for New Hampshire

Housing and childcare are published at true county resolution. Cost of living, wages, crime, schools and environment are reported at the state tier, read those on the New Hampshire profile, which scores all seven dimensions on the national curve.

See the New Hampshire Life Score →

Using Merrimack County's figures

Fair Market Rent and childcare are the housing decisions a county actually controls, use them for a move, then read the state page for the rest.

FMR is HUD’s benchmark for Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, not a market quote, a specific listing can run above or below it. How it is sourced
Compare Merrimack County head-to-head with a neighboring county on rent and childcare. Compare counties
For crime, schools, wages and environment, read the New Hampshire state profile. New Hampshire →

County data here covers housing and childcare; the other dimensions are state-level baselines and vary within a state.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Fair Market Rent in Merrimack County?

HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Merrimack County, NH is $1,974/month (FY2026). A studio is $1,361, a 1-bedroom $1,504, a 3-bedroom $2,604 and a 4-bedroom $2,614. FMR is the benchmark HUD uses to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards.

How much does childcare cost in Merrimack County?

Center-based infant care in Merrimack County runs about $14,926/year, per U.S. Department of Labor data; preschool-age center care is about $12,409/year.

Is Merrimack County an affordable place to live?

A 2-bedroom at HUD's Fair Market Rent ($23,688/year) is about 27% of the county's median household income of $88,806 - below the 30% cost-burden line HUD uses. Crime, schools and wages are best read at the state level on the New Hampshire page.

Explore more

All counties → Compare counties → New Hampshire profile →

Every figure on PlainCompare is loaded directly from BEA, HUD, FBI UCR, BLS OEWS, NCES, DOL, EPA, and the Census Bureau, no number is typed in by an editor. This county's affordability ranking is computed directly from HUD FMR and Census ACS data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.