What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimac has the highest household income ($123k).

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.

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

Measure	Merrimac	Plainville
People
Population	6,748Lowest	9,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA	43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA
	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 MA: 19.4%	18.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainville 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 MA: 17.9%	22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Merrimac and Plainville 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%	44.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	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 18% above MA	$104,106±$13kLowest about the MA average
	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 about the MA average	$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA	$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,399Highest 23% above MA	$5,329Lowest 11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8%	53.8%±13.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.9%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#188 of 282 in MA	#102 of 282 in MA
School district	Pentucket	Plainville
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.