Compare towns
Plainville vs Smithfield 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 people working from home (17.9%).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
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 | Smithfield | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,943Lowest |
22,233Highest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.2±3.6 11% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest 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%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Smithfield 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% 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±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Plainville 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. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below 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 | $5,329 71% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Plainville | Smithfield | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.