Compare towns
Merrimac vs Webster vs Rochester
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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Webster | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748 |
17,748Highest |
5,837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
46.5±6 16% above MA |
| 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% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rochester and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$120,273±$12k 16% above 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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above 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±$325 23% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,432±$743Highest 19% below MA |
| Rochester and Merrimac 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,530 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Merrimac and Rochester 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Webster | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.