What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most homeowners (68.6%).

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

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	Salem
People
Population	17,403Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 9% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Amesbury and Salem 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%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kHighest about the MA average	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
	Salem and Amesbury 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	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
	Salem 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	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Salem
High school in town	Amesbury High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.