Compare towns
Newton vs Seabrook vs Hampton Falls 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 homeowners (90.1%).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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 | Hampton Falls | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,836 |
8,427Highest |
2,328Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Seabrook and Hampton Falls 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% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook and Merrimac 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% |
27.5%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% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Hampton Falls 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. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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. |
$5,785Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #114 of 120 in NH | — | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Seabrook School District | Hampton Falls School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.