Compare towns
Amesbury vs South Berwick vs Wells
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).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | South Berwick | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
7,670Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and South Berwick 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±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Wells 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. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below 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. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and South Berwick 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Amesbury | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Marshwood High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
13.0Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.