Compare towns
Merrimac vs Dedham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
25,237Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% 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 | 16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 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+ | 41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
| Dedham 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±$38k about the MA average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325 23% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399 23% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Dedham 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Dedham | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.