Compare towns
Amesbury vs Exeter vs South Hampton vs Danvers
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 most affordable homes ($457k median).
South Hampton has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | South Hampton | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
16,151 |
984Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Danvers 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Danvers 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% 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% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 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. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Danvers 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Danvers 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Danvers 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% 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% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Danvers 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | South Hampton School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Exeter High School | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.