Compare towns
Merrimac vs Berlin vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimac has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Merrimac | Berlin | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748Highest |
3,378Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Lowest 24% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Merrimac and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin 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 MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
| Merrimac and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38k about the MA average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325 23% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Berlin-Boylston | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.