Compare towns
Kingston 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
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Kingston | Merrimac | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
6,748Highest |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12kLowest 30% 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 | $492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 153% above U.S. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Lowest 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 | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Pentucket | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.