What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

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

Measure	Amesbury	Orford
People
Population	17,403Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	0% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S.	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orford and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S.	$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S.	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Amesbury and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 136% above U.S.	$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amesbury and Orford 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	—
School district	Amesbury	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.