Compare towns
Merrimac vs Rochester 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
Merrimac has the most renters (18.7% rent).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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.
| Measure | Merrimac | Rochester | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748Highest |
5,837 |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.5±6Lowest 20% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 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% |
20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester 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% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Rochester 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% |
43.5%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%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Rochester 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. |
$120,273±$12kLowest 49% 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. |
$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Newton and Rochester 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. |
$6,530Lowest 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% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pentucket | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.