Compare towns
Newton vs Haverhill 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Haverhill has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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 | Haverhill | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
4,611Lowest |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
49.7±10.6Highest 28% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Haverhill and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Newton and Merrimac 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% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Haverhill 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. |
$85,929±$22kLowest 6% 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±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$247,900±$41kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,115±$84Lowest 21% 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 | $8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,908Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±26.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #70 of 120 in NH | #95 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Haverhill Cooperative School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Woodsville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.