Compare towns
Merrimac vs Thompson vs Deerfield
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 most expensive homes ($553k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Thompson | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
9,337Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimac and Deerfield 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% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
| Merrimac and Deerfield 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Deerfield and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Thompson School District | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.