Compare towns
Deerfield vs Ripton vs Berlin 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
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Merrimac has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Berlin | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
508Lowest |
3,378 |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% 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 | 13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimac and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% 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 | $414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% 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 | $1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Berlin-Boylston | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.