What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Merrimac	Newton
People
Population	6,748Highest	4,836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S.	47.8±5.7Lowest 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%	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+	26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,054±$16kLowest 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	$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S.	$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S.
	Newton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S.	$8,124Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.3%±29.1Lowest 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	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#188 of 282 in MA	#70 of 120 in NH
School district	Pentucket	Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.