What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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	Merrimac	Atkinson
People
Population	6,748Lowest	7,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S.	57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S.
	Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Merrimac and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S.	$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S.
	Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$553,400±$38kLowest 66% above U.S.	$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S.
	Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,352±$325Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Merrimac and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,399Highest 137% above U.S.	$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.3%±29.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Atkinson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#188 of 282 in MA	#32 of 120 in NH
School district	Pentucket	Timberlane Regional School District
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.