Compare towns
Amesbury vs Exeter vs Amherst
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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Exeter | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
16,151 |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Amherst 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amesbury | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Exeter High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.