Compare towns
Merrimac vs Ogunquit vs Deerfield vs Sterling
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 youngest population (median age 49.4).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Deerfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,748 |
1,379Lowest |
5,158 |
8,183Highest |
| 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% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% 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% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Merrimac 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. |
$414,900±$37kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
— | $1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sterling 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. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Sterling 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #188 of 282 in MA | — | #156 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | — | Deerfield · Frontier | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Frontier Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.