Compare towns
Amesbury vs Hudson vs Newburyport vs Merrimac
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
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 | Hudson | Newburyport | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
20,077Highest |
18,652 |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
49.8±2.9Highest 25% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Newburyport 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Newburyport 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% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
67%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Amesbury and Hudson 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 about the MA average |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$139,625±$21kHighest 34% above MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Newburyport and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,592±$221 10% below MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| Amesbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 23% above MA |
$6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
$7,944Highest 33% above MA |
$7,399 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±9.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #56 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Hudson | Newburyport | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Hudson High | Newburyport High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.2Lowest |
10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.