What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).

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.

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

Measure	Plaistow	Amesbury
People
Population	7,861Lowest	17,403Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amesbury and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amesbury and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amesbury and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.	$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Plaistow and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.	$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S.	$7,360Highest 136% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amesbury and Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH	#151 of 282 in MA
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Amesbury
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Amesbury High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.