Compare towns
Andover vs Amesbury vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest population (median age 46).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
17,403Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Andover and Webster 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Webster 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% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Webster 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. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
| Amesbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amesbury and Webster 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.