Compare towns
Amesbury vs South Hampton vs Newburyport vs Merrimac
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 Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Newburyport has the most people working from home (28.9%).
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 Hampton | Newburyport | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
984Lowest |
18,652Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
49.8±2.9Highest 28% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Newburyport and Merrimac 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Newburyport 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% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$139,625±$21k 73% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$834,000±$37kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,592±$221 13% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,944 155% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.4%±9.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Merrimac 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | — | #56 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | South Hampton School District | Newburyport | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Newburyport High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.