Compare towns
Amesbury vs Plainville vs Wolfeboro
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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Plainville | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
9,943 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Amesbury 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. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amesbury | Plainville | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.