Compare towns
Merrimac vs Rochester vs Haverhill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Rochester has the most homeowners (88.1%).
Haverhill has the most people working from home (12.5%).
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 | Rochester | Haverhill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
5,837Lowest |
67,698Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.5±6 16% above MA |
39.4±1.1Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Haverhill and Rochester 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% |
20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
43.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Haverhill and Rochester 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 |
$120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
$88,326±$4kLowest 15% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$453,900±$9kLowest 19% below MA |
| 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 23% below MA |
$1,432±$743 19% below MA |
$1,668±$49Highest 5% below MA |
| Haverhill and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$6,530 9% above MA |
$4,772Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.2%±5.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Haverhill and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±1.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Haverhill 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #243 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Haverhill High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.