Compare towns
Amesbury vs Hampton Falls vs Newfields vs Merrimac
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 renters (31.4% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
2,328 |
2,023Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Merrimac 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Hampton Falls 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Hampton Falls 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Merrimac 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | — | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Hampton Falls School District | Newfields School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.