Compare towns
Barnstead vs Merrimac vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barnstead | Merrimac | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
6,748Highest |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Newton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Pentucket | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.