Compare towns
Merrimac vs Newton vs Seabrook
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Newton | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
4,836Lowest |
8,427Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Seabrook and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest 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%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook and Merrimac 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%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% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Seabrook 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. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% 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±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
| Newton and Seabrook 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. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,785Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton and Seabrook 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 | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pentucket | Sanborn Regional School District | Seabrook 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.