Compare towns
Amesbury vs Merrimac vs Newburyport
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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
Newburyport has the most people working from home (28.9%).
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 | Merrimac | Newburyport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
6,748Lowest |
18,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
49.8±2.9Highest 25% above MA |
| Newburyport and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Newburyport 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% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Amesbury and Newburyport 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 |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
$139,625±$21kHighest 34% above MA |
| Newburyport and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$1,592±$221 10% below MA |
| Amesbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Lowest 23% above MA |
$7,399 23% above MA |
$7,944Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1 MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±9.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA | #56 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Pentucket | Newburyport |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Newburyport High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.