What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).

Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Exeter
People
Population	17,403Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+12.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Amesbury 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%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Amesbury and Exeter 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%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter 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.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter 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.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Exeter 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%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter 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	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 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.