Compare towns
Andover vs Amesbury vs Salisbury
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 expensive homes ($519k median).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Andover | Amesbury | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135 |
17,403Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 18% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44k 10% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962 91% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$5,859Lowest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — |
| School district | Andover School District | Amesbury | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.