Compare towns
Newton vs Seabrook Beach 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).
Seabrook Beach has the most people working from home (39.5%).
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 | Seabrook Beach | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
1,001Lowest |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
62±3.8Highest 59% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest 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% |
42.1%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Seabrook Beach 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. |
$93,571±$43kLowest 16% 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. |
$920,900±$75kHighest 177% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$1,725±$575Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Seabrook Beach 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%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
90.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
39.5%±20Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 | — | Pentucket |
| High school 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.