Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dalton vs Merrimac
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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.
| Measure | Deerfield | Dalton | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
6,256 |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
49.4±6.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Deerfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Merrimac and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,352±$325Highest 23% below MA |
| Merrimac and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Dalton 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Central Berkshire | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.