What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).

Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	17,403Highest	5,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+15.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA	51±6.9Highest 28% above MA
	Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury 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 about the MA average	$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA
	Amesbury and Salisbury 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	$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA
	Amesbury and Salisbury 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	$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average
	Salisbury 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	$4,561Lowest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	59.8%±11.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	—
High school in town	Amesbury High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	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.