Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dedham 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Dedham | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
25,237Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Deerfield and Merrimac 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Dedham and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,399 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Deerfield 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Dedham | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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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.