Compare towns
Seabrook vs Merrimac vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Kingston has the most people working from home (15.7%).
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 | Seabrook | Merrimac | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,427Highest |
6,748 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±1.9 39% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimac and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Lowest 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+ | 27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kingston and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$174Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Seabrook and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,785Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kingston and Seabrook 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 | #114 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Seabrook School District | Pentucket | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.