Compare towns
Amesbury vs Hampton Falls vs Epping vs Plainville
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 most kids (20% under 18).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Plainville has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Hampton Falls | Epping | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
2,328Lowest |
7,430 |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Epping 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Plainville 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Hampton Falls 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Hampton Falls School District | Epping School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.