Compare towns
Berlin vs Epping vs Deerfield 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
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Epping has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Merrimac has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Berlin | Epping | Deerfield | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
7,430Highest |
5,158 |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$5,824Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Epping 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #156 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Epping School District | Deerfield · Frontier | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.