What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).

Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amesbury	Norton
People
Population	17,403Lowest	19,240Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.9% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 9% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Amesbury and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Amesbury and Norton 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%	45.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
	Norton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA
	Amesbury and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
	Norton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 23% above MA	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Norton and Amesbury 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	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Norton
High school in town	Amesbury High	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	10.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.