Compare towns
Deerfield vs Mansfield 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).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Mansfield | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
23,931Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% 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% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield 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% |
15.4%±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% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Mansfield 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 |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Mansfield 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 |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Mansfield and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Mansfield and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Mansfield | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Mansfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.1 |
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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.