Compare towns

Amesbury vs Kennebunk vs South Hampton vs Danvers

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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).

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.

MeasureAmesburyKennebunkSouth HamptonDanvers
People
Population
17,403
11,820
984Lowest
28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±1.7Lowest
12% above U.S.
54.6±3.3Highest
40% above U.S.
45.1±5.3
16% above U.S.
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2Lowest
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%
30%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Amesbury and Danvers 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.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
$152,500±$44kHighest
89% above U.S.
$125,395±$10k
55% above U.S.
South Hampton and Danvers 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.
$487,700±$21kLowest
47% above U.S.
$661,100±$45kHighest
99% above U.S.
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
South Hampton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$115
19% above U.S.
$1,425±$290Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,889±$489
34% above U.S.
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
Danvers and South Hampton 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.
$4,999Lowest
60% above U.S.
$9,109Highest
192% above U.S.
$6,654
113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
30%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Amesbury and Danvers 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%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
7% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #151 of 282 in MA #9 of 133 in ME — #91 of 282 in MA
School district Amesbury RSU 21 South Hampton School District Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town Amesbury High Kennebunk High School None in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Lowest
11.6
—
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.