Compare towns
Hudson vs Salisbury vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most homeowners (73.2%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51).
Amesbury has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Hudson | Salisbury | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
5,656Lowest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
$103,554±$12kHighest about the MA average |
| Amesbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA |
| Amesbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | — | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Hudson High | — | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.