What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k 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	Pembroke
People
Population	17,403Highest	7,438Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S.	41.9±3.3Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pembroke and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amesbury and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amesbury and Pembroke 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.	$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Pembroke 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.	$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Amesbury and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S.	$7,589Highest 143% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969 11 yrs older than U.S.	1969 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amesbury and Pembroke 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	#85 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	Pembroke School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	Pembroke Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	13.1Highest
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.