What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the oldest population (median age 43.7).

Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover
People
Population	17,403Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S.	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover 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 U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Hanover 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%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#151 of 282 in MA	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.