Compare towns
Amesbury vs Salisbury vs Plainville vs South Hampton
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 renters (31.4% rent).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Plainville has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Plainville | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
9,281 |
9,943 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest 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% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Plainville 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. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Plainville 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. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Plainville and South Hampton 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. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% 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% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Amesbury | Triton | Plainville | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | 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 | 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.