Compare towns
Amesbury vs Salisbury vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
9,281 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Salisbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$12k about the MA average |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Upton 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 4% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| 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 23% above MA |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Salisbury 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.