What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).

Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).

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	Brentwood
People
Population	17,403Highest	4,641Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S.	43.8±3.1Highest 13% above U.S.
	Brentwood 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%	21.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brentwood 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%	21.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brentwood 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%	49%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amesbury and Brentwood 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.	$165,509±$23kHighest 105% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S.	$528,100±$75kHighest 59% above U.S.
	Brentwood and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S.	$2,217±$654Highest 57% above U.S.
	Brentwood and Amesbury 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.	$9,713Highest 211% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	63.9%±37.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brentwood and Amesbury 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	#16 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	Brentwood School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	6 photos →

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.