Compare towns
Newton vs Hampstead 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 highest household income ($138k).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Newton | Hampstead | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
9,102Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Hampstead 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% 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 | $459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Hampstead 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. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Newton 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Hampstead 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.