Compare towns
Amesbury vs Topsham vs West Newbury
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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
West Newbury has the highest household income ($180k).
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 | Topsham | West Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
9,706 |
4,591Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
49.5±3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| West Newbury and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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 28% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$179,500±$27kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$808,200±$47kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,675±$674 19% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and West Newbury 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$9,240Highest 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Newbury and Amesbury 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Newbury 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #86 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Mt Ararat High School | Pentucket Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.