What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).

Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).

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	Bourne
People
Population	17,403Lowest	20,323Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.5% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bourne 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±$12kHighest about the MA average	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA
	Amesbury and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA	$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average
	Bourne 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 4% below MA	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA
	Amesbury and Bourne 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	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Bourne 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%	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Amesbury and Bourne 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	#206 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Amesbury High	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	9.8Lowest
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.