Compare towns
Amesbury vs Nelson vs West Newbury
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).
West Newbury has the highest household income ($180k).
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 | West Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
648Lowest |
4,591 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.5±3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.9Lowest 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% |
21.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and West Newbury 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% |
64.8%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% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and West Newbury 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. |
$179,500±$27kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$808,200±$47kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,675±$674 19% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and West Newbury 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. |
$9,240Highest 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Newbury and Amesbury 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% |
1.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and West Newbury 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 | — | #86 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Nelson School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Pentucket Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.