What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).

Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).

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	Auburn
People
Population	17,403Highest	16,970Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.3% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA	44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Auburn 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 MA: 19.4%	21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Auburn 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 MA: 17.9%	20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Auburn 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 MA: 47.3%	45.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Auburn and Amesbury 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 about the MA average	$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA
	Auburn and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA	$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA	$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA
	Amesbury and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 23% above MA	$5,289Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest MA: 10%	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 12% below MA
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Amesbury and Auburn 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	#151 of 282 in MA	#106 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Auburn
High school in town	Amesbury High	Auburn Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.