Compare towns
Newton vs Kingston 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%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Kingston | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
6,275 |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Kingston 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. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% 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. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Kingston 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. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest 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% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.