Compare towns
Merrimac vs Exeter vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 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.
| Measure | Merrimac | Exeter | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,748Lowest |
16,151 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,399 137% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pentucket | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.