What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Amesbury has the most kids (20% 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.

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

Measure	Deerfield	Amesbury
People
Population	5,158Lowest	17,403Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Deerfield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	44.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Deerfield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average	$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average
	Deerfield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA	$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA	$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA
	Amesbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Lowest about the MA average	$7,360Highest 23% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	7.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Deerfield 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	#156 of 282 in MA	#151 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Amesbury
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Amesbury High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	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.