Compare towns
Amesbury vs Hudson vs South Hampton vs West Newbury
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).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
West Newbury has the most people working from home (24.5%).
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 | South Hampton | West Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
20,077Highest |
984Lowest |
4,591 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
49.5±3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| West Newbury and South Hampton 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% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton 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% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Newbury and Hudson 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% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
$179,500±$27kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| West Newbury and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$808,200±$47kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,675±$674 19% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury 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. |
$6,892Lowest 121% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
$9,240Highest 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Newbury and Amesbury 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% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Newbury and Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | — | #86 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Hudson | South Hampton School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Hudson High | None in town | Pentucket Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.2Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.