What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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	South Berwick
People
Population	17,403Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amesbury and South Berwick 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%	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick 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 28% above U.S.	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.
	Amesbury and South Berwick 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.	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 136% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and South Berwick 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick 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	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Amesbury	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Amesbury High	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.