Compare towns
Newton vs Ogunquit 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Merrimac has the most renters (18.7% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
1,379Lowest |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 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% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #70 of 120 in NH | — | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | — | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.