What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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	Concord
People
Population	17,403Lowest	44,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S.	40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Concord 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%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Amesbury and Concord 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%	18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Concord 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Concord 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 28% above U.S.	$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S.	$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,441±$43Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 136% above U.S.	$7,227Lowest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969 11 yrs older than U.S.	1969 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amesbury and Concord 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	#89 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	Concord High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.