Compare towns
Newton vs Merrimac vs Dunbarton
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%).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Merrimac | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
6,748Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Dunbarton 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% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Dunbarton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Dunbarton 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. |
$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Newton and Dunbarton 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. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Dunbarton 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±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% 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. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton and Dunbarton 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Pentucket | Dunbarton School District |
| 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.