What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the highest household income ($104k).

Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k 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	Brunswick
People
Population	17,403Lowest	22,336Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S.	40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Amesbury and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Amesbury and Brunswick 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%	22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S.	$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S.	$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,469±$99Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 136% above U.S.	$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	23 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brunswick 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	#30 of 133 in ME
School district	Amesbury	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10
High school in town	Amesbury High	Brunswick High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	10.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.