What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Great Barrington
People
Population	17,403Highest	7,202Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA	49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	14.9%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Amesbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kHighest about the MA average	$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA
	Amesbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA	$494,300±$61kLowest 12% below MA
	Amesbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA	$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 23% above MA	$5,935Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	60.9%±15.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest MA: 10%	9.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6% MA: 62.5%	68.6% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	22 minLowest 25% below MA
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Great Barrington 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	#139 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Berkshire Hills
High school in town	Amesbury High	Monument Mt Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	9.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.