Compare towns
Amesbury vs Nelson vs Newburyport
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 renters (31.4% rent).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
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 | Newburyport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
648Lowest |
18,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.8±2.9Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.5Lowest 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%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
67%Highest 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% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$139,625±$21kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$834,000±$37kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,592±$221 13% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,944Highest 155% 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% |
46.4%±9.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Newburyport 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Newburyport 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 | — | #56 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Nelson School District | 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 |
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.