What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

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	Lenox
People
Population	17,403Highest	5,079Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.4% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lenox and Amesbury 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 about the MA average	$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average
	Lenox 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 8% below MA	$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA
	Amesbury and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 23% above MA	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest MA: 10%	8.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	23 minLowest 22% below MA
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lenox and Amesbury 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	#90 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Lenox
High school in town	Amesbury High	Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	7.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.