Compare towns

Amesbury vs Hampton Falls vs South Berwick

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 highest household income ($166k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureAmesburyHampton FallsSouth Berwick
People
Population
17,403Highest
2,328Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±1.7
12% above U.S.
49.5±7.3Highest
27% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Hampton Falls and Amesbury 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%
19.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick 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%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
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%
4.2%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
South Berwick 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±$12k
28% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$519,300±$32k
56% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$115Lowest
19% above U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and South Berwick 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.
$4,956Lowest
59% 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%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Amesbury and South Berwick 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
10% above U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Falls and South Berwick 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 — #58 of 133 in ME
School district Amesbury Hampton Falls School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Amesbury High None in town Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Lowest
—
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.