What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimac has the most kids (16.5% under 18).

Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).

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	Stockbridge
People
Population	6,748Highest	2,056Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.4±6.8Lowest 24% above MA	63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA
Kids under 18	16.5%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4%	8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Merrimac and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±5.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stockbridge 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±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA
	Stockbridge 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±$38kLowest about the MA average	$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA
	Stockbridge and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,352±$325Highest 23% below MA	$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA
	Merrimac and Stockbridge 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	$4,652Lowest 22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.3%±29.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8%
	Stockbridge 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 MA: 10%	7.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#188 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Pentucket	—
High school 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.