Compare towns
Amesbury vs Eliot vs Kensington 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).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Kensington has the most people working from home (19.2%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Kensington | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
7,146 |
2,009 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Amesbury 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Kensington and South Hampton 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. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington 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. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Amesbury | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kensington School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.