Compare towns
Merrimac vs Epping vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k median).
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 | Epping | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
7,430Highest |
5,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Rochester 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 52% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rochester 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 4% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Rochester 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,530Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #188 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Epping School District | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.