Compare towns
Hampton Falls 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
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Merrimac has the most renters (18.7% rent).
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
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 | Hampton Falls | Merrimac | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
6,748Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
$8,124 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest 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 | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Newton 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 | — | #188 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls 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.