Compare towns
Merrimac vs Newton vs Sutton
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).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748Highest |
4,836 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Sutton 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%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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±$16kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
| Newton and Sutton 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. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
| Newton and Sutton 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. |
$7,652 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton and Sutton 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 | — |
| School district | Pentucket | Sanborn Regional School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.