Compare towns
Amesbury vs Kensington 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).
Kensington has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
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 | Kensington | South Hampton | West Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
2,009 |
984Lowest |
4,591 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.4%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. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% 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% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest 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% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Newbury and Kensington 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% |
48.5% 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% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and West Newbury 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. |
$165,083±$18k 104% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
$179,500±$27kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| West Newbury and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% 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. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,675±$674Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
$9,240 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8 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% |
1.9% 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% |
92.9% 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. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 min 8% 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% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Newbury and Kensington 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 | — | — | #86 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Kensington School District | South Hampton School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town | Pentucket Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | — | 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.