Compare towns
Merrimac vs Nelson vs Plainville
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 highest household income ($123k).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Nelson | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
648Lowest |
9,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Plainville 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Plainville 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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 52% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Plainville 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Plainville 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #188 of 282 in MA | — | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Nelson School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.