Compare towns
Newton vs Merrimac vs Epsom
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).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
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 | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
6,748Highest |
4,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4Lowest 21% 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% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Epsom 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% |
20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Epsom 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% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epsom 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. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13kLowest 21% 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. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,212±$437Lowest 14% 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. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
$6,210Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Newton 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton and Epsom 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 | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Pentucket | Epsom 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.