What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).

Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amesbury	Kingston
People
Population	17,403Highest	6,275Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+2.9% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S.	55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Kingston 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amesbury and Kingston 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.	$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Kingston and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S.	$492,900±$58kLowest 48% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S.	$7,906Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Kingston 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%	2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amesbury and Kingston 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	#78 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	Sanborn Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.9Highest
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.