What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).

Merrimac has the most affordable homes ($553k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newington	Merrimac
People
Population	939Lowest	6,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±10.1Lowest 25% above U.S.	49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S.
	Merrimac and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Merrimac and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newington and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newington and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S.	$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S.
	Newington and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S.	$553,400±$38kLowest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S.	$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Newington and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,081Lowest 95% above U.S.	$7,399Highest 137% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59.3%±29.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newington and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Merrimac and Newington 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
School district	Newington School District	Pentucket
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.