Compare towns
Merrimac vs Epping 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
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Merrimac | Epping | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
7,430Highest |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% 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 | 16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% 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 | $553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
| Epping and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399 137% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pentucket | Epping School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.