Compare towns
Amesbury vs Salisbury vs Dunbarton
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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Salisbury | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
9,281 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Dunbarton 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Dunbarton 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% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Dunbarton 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. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amesbury | Triton | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.