Compare towns
Merrimac vs Seabrook vs Westminster
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).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Seabrook | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748Lowest |
8,427Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Lowest 24% 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% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Seabrook 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±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Westminster 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. |
$443,500±$40k 33% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
$5,785 85% above U.S. |
$4,973Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | #114 of 120 in NH | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Seabrook School District | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.6 |
| 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.