Compare towns
Merrimac vs Ogunquit vs Amesbury 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 highest household income ($123k).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Amesbury | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,748 |
1,379Lowest |
17,403Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
— | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Merrimac 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #188 of 282 in MA | — | #151 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | — | Amesbury | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Amesbury High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.