Compare towns
Merrimac vs Ogunquit vs Stoneham 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Stoneham | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,748 |
1,379Lowest |
23,355Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Newton 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% 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±$38k 66% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399 137% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #188 of 282 in MA | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pentucket | — | Stoneham | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.