Compare towns
Amesbury vs Lenox vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Plainville has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Lenox | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
5,079Lowest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Lenox and Plainville 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 |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Lenox and Plainville 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 |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Amesbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Plainville 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Lenox | Plainville |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
7.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.