Moving to Merrimac, Massachusetts

Merrimac, Massachusetts is a small town located in Essex County, about 28 miles north of Boston. It is bordered by Amesbury to the north, West Newbury to the east, Haverhill to the south and Salisbury to the west. The town has a population of just under 10,000 people and covers an area of 13.3 square miles.

The town was first settled in 1638 and was originally called Pentucket, after the Indian tribe that lived in the area. In 1650, the name was changed to Merrimack and then eventually shortened to Merrimac in 1870. The town was home to many early settlers who made their living farming and fishing on the nearby Merrimack River.

Today, Merrimac is primarily a residential community with some light industry located along its eastern border with West Newbury. It has several small commercial centers with stores for groceries, home improvement supplies and other services as well as a few restaurants and pubs.

The town also has several recreational facilities including two public beaches on Lake Attitash (a popular spot for swimming during summer months), two public parks (Donovan Park and Riverside Park), several walking trails along the riverbank and a golf course at Merrimac Golf Club.

Merrimac also has its own elementary school district providing quality education for grades K-8th grade as well as two private schools: St Mary’s Academy (grades pre-K through 8th) and Pentucket Regional High School (grades 9-12).

Residents of Merrimac enjoy easy access to Boston via I-95 which passes through town or via commuter rail from nearby Haverhill station which connects directly into North Station in downtown Boston within an hour’s journey time. There are also plenty of shops, restaurants and other entertainment options located within easy reach of Merrimac including a movie theater at Market Square Shopping Center in neighboring Amesbury or shopping options at Salisbury Square Mall just across the state line into New Hampshire.

Merrimac is an ideal location for those looking for a peaceful suburban lifestyle without sacrificing easy access to city amenities such as culture, dining or entertainment options that can be found within easy reach from this small but charming town nestled on the banks of riverbanks of the majestic Merrimack River.

Population: 6,138. Estimated population in July 2024: 6,360 (+3.6% change)
Males: 2,988 (48.7%), Females: 3,150 (51.3%)

Essex County

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.4 years
Median household income: $58,692
Median house value: $224,700

Population by Race

Races in Merrimac:

• White Non-Hispanic (97.8%)
• Hispanic (0.9%)
• Two or more races (0.7%)

Ancestries: Irish (26.5%), English (20.5%), French (17.0%), Italian (12.5%), French Canadian (6.8%), Polish (6.4%).

Elevation: 107 feet

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Merrimac

• High school or higher: 90.2%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.8%
• Graduate or professional degree: 11.3%
• Unemployed: 2.4%
• Mean travel time to work: 28.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Merrimac town

• Never married: 21.4%
• Now married: 62.5%
• Separated: 1.7%
• Widowed: 6.0%
• Divorced: 8.4%

1.8% Foreign born

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Merrimac:

• MERRIMACK VALLEY HOSPITAL (about 6 miles; HAVERHILL, MA)
• WHITTIER REHABILITATION HOSP (about 6 miles; HAVERHILL, MA)
• BALDPATE HOSPITAL (about 8 miles; GEORGETOWN, MA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Merrimac:

• PEASE INTERNATIONAL TRADEPORT (about 21 miles; PORTSMOUTH, NH; Abbreviation: PSM)
• MANCHESTER (about 31 miles; MANCHESTER, NH; Abbreviation: MHT)
• LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD (about 32 miles; BEDFORD, MA; Abbreviation: BED)

Other public-use airports nearest to Merrimac:

• LAWRENCE MUNI (about 12 miles; LAWRENCE, MA; Abbreviation: LWM)
• PLUM ISLAND (about 13 miles; NEWBURYPORT, MA; Abbreviation: 2B2)
• HAMPTON AIRFIELD (about 16 miles; HAMPTON, NH; Abbreviation: 7B3)

Amtrak stations near Merrimac:

• 7 miles: HAVERHILL (WASHINGTON ST. @ RAILROAD SQUARE). Services: ticket office.
• 11 miles: EXETER (60 LINCOLN ST.). Services: ticket office.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Merrimac:

• NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 6 miles; HAVERHILL, MA; Full-time enrollment: 3,388)
• MERRIMACK COLLEGE (about 13 miles; NORTH ANDOVER, MA; Full-time enrollment: 2,384)
• NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 19 miles; DANVERS, MA; Full-time enrollment: 3,663)
• UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE-MAIN CAMPUS (about 21 miles; DURHAM, NH; Full-time enrollment: 12,586)
• SALEM STATE COLLEGE (about 23 miles; SALEM, MA; Full-time enrollment: 5,917)
• UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS-LOWELL (about 27 miles; LOWELL, MA; Full-time enrollment: 8,373)
• TUFTS UNIVERSITY (about 30 miles; MEDFORD, MA; Full-time enrollment: 8,627)

Public primary/middle schools in Merrimac:

• HELEN R DONAGHUE SCHOOL (Students: 413; Location: UNION STREET EXT.; Grades: 03 – 06)
• DR FREDERICK N SWEETSIR (Students: 333; Location: 104 CHURCH STREET; Grades: PK – 02)

Private primary/middle schools in Merrimac:

• LITTLE PEOPLE PRESCHOOL (Students: 129; Location: 59 WEST MAIN STREET; Grades: PK – KG)
• HARBORSCHOOLS MEERRIMAC CAMPUS (Students: 68; Location: PO BOX 275; Grades: UG – UG)

Libraries

Library in Merrimac:

• THOMAS HOYT MEMORIAL LIBRARY (Operating income: $154,403; Location: 34 WEST MAIN ST.; 31,396 books; 403 audio materials; 922 video materials; 100 serial subscriptions)