Compare towns
Merrimac vs Exeter vs Deerfield
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 most expensive homes ($553k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
16,151Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399 137% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,824Lowest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Exeter 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.