Compare towns
Newton vs Chester vs Merrimac
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Merrimac has the most renters (18.7% rent).
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 | Newton | Chester | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
5,300 |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Lowest 21% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% 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 | 17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Chester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Newton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 160% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 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 | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton and Chester 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Chester School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.