Compare towns
Newton vs Newfields 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 affordable homes ($460k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
2,023Lowest |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$29k 72% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Newton 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Newfields School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.