What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Merrimac	Great Barrington
People
Population	6,748Lowest	7,202Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±6.8Lowest 24% above MA	49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA
	Great Barrington and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4%	14.9%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Merrimac and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Great Barrington 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%	49.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA	$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average	$494,300±$61kLowest 12% below MA
	Merrimac and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,352±$325Highest 23% below MA	$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA
	Merrimac and Great Barrington 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	$5,935Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.3%±29.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Great Barrington 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%	9.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	22 minLowest 25% below MA
Work from home	8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#188 of 282 in MA	#139 of 282 in MA
School district	Pentucket	Berkshire Hills
High school in town	None in town	Monument Mt Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.