Compare towns
Merrimac vs Berlin vs Westminster
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 highest household income ($123k).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Merrimac | Berlin | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
3,378Lowest |
8,374Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
48.3±4.6Lowest 21% above MA |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Merrimac 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% |
26%±5.7Lowest 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% |
45.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin 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±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest 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 |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% 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±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,843±$268 5% above MA |
| Berlin and Westminster 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 |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster 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 MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #188 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Berlin-Boylston | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.