What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.9%).

Merrimac has the highest household income ($123k).

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	Tisbury	Merrimac
People
Population	4,893Lowest	6,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.9±5.7Highest 32% above MA	49.4±6.8Lowest 24% above MA
	Tisbury and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.5%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Merrimac and Tisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±7.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Merrimac and Tisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	41%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	2.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Merrimac and Tisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,113±$5kLowest 29% below MA	$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$993,600±$141kHighest 77% above MA	$553,400±$38kLowest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$690±$683Lowest 61% below MA	$1,352±$325Highest 23% below MA
	Merrimac and Tisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,721Highest 29% above MA	$7,399Lowest 23% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.9%±82.4Highest MA: 51.8%	59.3%±29.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Tisbury and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	81.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 29% below MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	20.6%±10.2Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Tisbury 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	#127 of 282 in MA	#188 of 282 in MA
School district	Tisbury	Pentucket
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.