Compare towns
Amesbury vs Newburyport vs Upton
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 renters (31.4% rent).
Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Newburyport | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
18,652Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
49.8±2.9Highest 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Newburyport and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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 MA: 17.9% |
24.4%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Newburyport and Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
67%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$139,625±$21k 34% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Newburyport 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 |
$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,592±$221 10% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$7,944 33% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±9.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Newburyport and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Newburyport | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Newburyport High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.