Compare towns
Merrimac vs Plaistow vs Rochester
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 oldest population (median age 49.4).
Plaistow has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Plaistow | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
7,861Highest |
5,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.5±6 20% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Rochester 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Plaistow 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. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12k 49% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Rochester 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. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
| Plaistow and Rochester 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. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$6,530Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plaistow and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #188 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Timberlane Regional School District | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.