Compare towns
Merrimac vs Newfields vs Haverhill
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 oldest population (median age 49.4).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Newfields | Haverhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
2,023Lowest |
67,698Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Merrimac and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Haverhill and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Haverhill 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$453,900±$9kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,668±$49 18% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Haverhill 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Haverhill and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±1.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #188 of 282 in MA | — | #243 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Newfields School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Haverhill High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.