Compare towns
Plainville vs Hampton 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
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Plainville | Hampton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Lowest |
10,101 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,000±$35kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,654±$93Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | — | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Amesbury High |
| 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.