Merrimack County, NH elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Merrimack County: 7 seats on 6 elected bodies. 7 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

Board of County Commissioners

Merrimack County Board of Commissioners

Each member is elected by the voters of their district.

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County Commissioner, District 1Steve Shurtleff Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Commissioner, District 3David Lovlien Jr. Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County AttorneyPaul Halvorsen Republican and Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Register of DeedsSamantha Morse Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Register of ProbateJane Bradstreet Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
SheriffDavid Croft Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County TreasurerMary R. Heath Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

How many local governments Merrimack County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 62 local governments in Merrimack County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships (2 municipal, 25 township)270
School districts (school boards)160
Special districts (elected boards)180

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments (1 in Merrimack County), though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Merrimack County

155,967people
42.9median ageU.S.: 38.9
$97,004 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
7.6%below the U.S.: 12.5%
38.9%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$367,600median home valueU.S.: $332,700
3.1%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
4.4%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
8.1%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
5.1%U.S.: 8.4%
44.8%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
27%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 2.7% · White 90.1% · Black 1.6% · Asian 1.5% · Other or more than one race 4% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Merrimack County

1.7%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 2.9%. New Hampshire: 1.9%.
1,391people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
81,103people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
82,494in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Merrimack County 0.0%1.5%3.1%4.6%6.2% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)1.7%1,39181,10382,494
August 20262.5%2,06980,42182,490
July 20262.4%1,98580,97282,957
June 20262.3%1,87580,71782,592
May 20262.3%1,92180,27382,194
April 20262.6%2,16180,74282,903
March 20262.6%2,20881,40283,610
February 20262.9%2,44180,70683,147
January 20263.0%2,48481,01883,502
December 20252.6%2,14381,02783,170
November 20253.0%2,46680,94783,413
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20252.9%2,36580,27082,635
August 20252.9%2,42080,55182,971
July 20252.8%2,30280,75483,056
June 20252.8%2,30880,54882,856
May 20252.6%2,10980,16082,269
April 20252.6%2,16780,95683,123
March 20253.0%2,50681,13383,639
February 20253.1%2,57080,80383,373
January 20252.9%2,39181,35283,743
December 20242.3%1,95781,41583,372
November 20242.5%2,10681,42983,535
October 20242.3%1,90981,63983,548
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)2.8%2,34180,77383,114
20242.3%1,88481,33883,222
20232.0%1,62380,54482,167
20222.2%1,80779,81181,618
20213.2%2,56777,99680,563
20205.9%4,81977,44282,261
20192.3%1,92382,29284,215
20182.3%1,93281,52183,453
20172.5%2,04780,50282,549
20162.6%2,11280,20882,320

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. New Hampshire's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 2.6% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Merrimack County

116.7 per 100,0002025. New Hampshire: 117.6.
746.5 per 100,0002025. New Hampshire: 818.1.
2murders2025, 187 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
2025187116.71,196746.5
2024170106.51,180739.6
By police agency (26)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Concord Police Department20258163044,834
Hooksett Police Department20251011415,502
Franklin Police Department202510928,842
Bow Police Department20252268,435
Pembroke Police Department202520157,660
Henniker Police Department20255226,287
Hopkinton Police Department20251196,201
Loudon Police Department20251265,778
Northfield Police Department202510325,114
Epsom Police Department20255225,066
Allenstown Police Department20259224,778
New London Police Department20241294,484
Boscawen Police Department20256114,191
Pittsfield Police Department20254224,158
Dunbarton Police Department2025183,231
Warner Police Department2025162,979
Chichester Police Department20246302,807
Canterbury Police Department20252112,487
Andover Police Department20245132,439
Newbury Police Department20252142,322
Sutton Police Department2023012,060
Webster Police Department20242171,984
Bradford Police Department2025021,738
Wilmot Police Department2025131,487
Danbury Police Department2021011,243
Hill Police Department2025111,059

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in New Hampshire · the U.S.

Police staffing

1.52 per 1,000 residents2025, 26 agencies serving 157,328 people.
239sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
63civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (26), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Concord Police Department792444,834
Hooksett Police Department271115,502
Franklin Police Department1788,842
New London Police Department964,473
Pembroke Police Department1237,660
Allenstown Police Department1024,778
Bow Police Department1018,435
Henniker Police Department916,287
Boscawen Police Department614,191
Epsom Police Department615,066
Hopkinton Police Department616,201
Loudon Police Department515,778
Newbury Police Department512,322
Chichester Police Department502,848
Dunbarton Police Department503,231
Northfield Police Department505,114
Pittsfield Police Department504,158
Bradford Police Department401,738
Andover Police Department302,462
Canterbury Police Department302,487
Sutton Police Department212,088
Warner Police Department112,979
Webster Police Department201,993
Wilmot Police Department201,487
Hill Police Department101,059
Danbury Police Department001,315
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
20252391.526326
20242351.505826

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Merrimack County County Attorney?
Paul Halvorsen (Republican and Democratic) is the County Attorney of Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Merrimack County Register of Deeds?
Samantha Morse (Republican) is the Register of Deeds of Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Merrimack County Register of Probate?
Jane Bradstreet (Democratic) is the Register of Probate of Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Merrimack County Sheriff?
David Croft (Democratic) is the Sheriff of Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Merrimack County County Treasurer?
Mary R. Heath (Republican) is the County Treasurer of Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Merrimack County commissioners?
Steve Shurtleff (District 1); David Lovlien Jr. (District 3).
What is the population of Merrimack County?
About 155,967 people, with a median age of 42.9; the median household income is $97,004 and 7.6% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Merrimack County?
1.7% in September 2026 (preliminary): 1,391 people unemployed in a labor force of 82,494, against 2.9% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Merrimack County?
62 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 2 municipal, 25 township, 16 school district and 18 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the New Hampshire Secretary of State's certified results of the November 2024 general election (county offices); officials appointed since then may differ; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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