What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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	Hadley
People
Population	17,403Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.4% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA
	Hadley 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 MA: 19.4%	16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Amesbury and Hadley 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%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley and Amesbury 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 MA: 47.3%	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hadley 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 about the MA average	$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA
	Hadley 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 8% below MA	$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA
	Amesbury and Hadley 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	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 23% above MA	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Hadley
High school in town	Amesbury High	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	7.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.