What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Amesbury	Amherst
People
Population	17,403Highest	11,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Amherst and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amesbury and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
	Amherst and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#151 of 282 in MA	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.