Compare towns
Amesbury vs Windham vs Exeter vs Danvers
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).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Danvers has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Windham | Exeter | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
16,038Lowest |
16,151 |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Danvers 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Danvers 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Exeter 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Exeter 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Windham High School | Exeter High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.