What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterfield has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chesterfield	Merrimac
People
Population	3,622Lowest	6,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±8.7Lowest 20% above U.S.	49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S.
	Merrimac and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Chesterfield and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chesterfield and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimac and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,370±$40kLowest 27% above U.S.	$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Merrimac and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$373,500±$33kLowest 12% above U.S.	$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$1kLowest 6% below U.S.	$1,352±$325Highest 4% below U.S.
	Merrimac and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,344Lowest 103% above U.S.	$7,399Highest 137% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59.3%±29.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chesterfield and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#52 of 120 in NH	#188 of 282 in MA
School district	Chesterfield School District	Pentucket
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.