Compare towns
Amesbury vs Bow vs Hampton Falls vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
South Hampton has the most homeowners (88.6%).
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.
| Measure | Amesbury | Bow | Hampton Falls | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
8,335 |
2,328 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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 28% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Hampton Falls 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Hampton Falls 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Amesbury | Bow School District | Hampton Falls School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.



