Compare towns
Newton vs Plaistow 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Plaistow | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
7,861Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Plaistow 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. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% 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±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Newton and Plaistow 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. |
$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% 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. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.