Compare towns
Amesbury vs Newfields vs Hudson vs Plainville
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 kids (20% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($476k 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 | Newfields | Hudson | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
2,023Lowest |
20,077Highest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Plainville 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Plainville 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Hudson 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 | — | #224 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Newfields School District | Hudson | Plainville |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Hudson High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.