Compare towns
Newton vs North Hampton 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).
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | North Hampton | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
4,543Lowest |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and North Hampton 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and North Hampton 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. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Newton 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. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| North Hampton 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. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | North Hampton School District | Pentucket |
| 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.