What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has the most people working from home (40.5%).

Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bolton	Amesbury
People
Population	5,737Lowest	17,403Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA	43.7±1.7Highest 9% above MA
	Amesbury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bolton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Amesbury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Amesbury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA	$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA	$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA	$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA
	Amesbury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,360Lowest 23% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Amesbury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	7.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#28 of 282 in MA	#151 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Amesbury
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	Amesbury High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.