Compare towns
Amesbury vs Nelson vs Bethlehem
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 expensive homes ($519k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Bethlehem has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Nelson | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
648Lowest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Amesbury 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Bethlehem 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amesbury | Nelson School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.