Compare towns
Salisbury vs Amesbury vs Newburyport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($479k median).
Amesbury has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k 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 | Salisbury | Amesbury | Newburyport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Lowest |
17,403 |
18,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
49.8±2.9 25% above MA |
| Salisbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
67%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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 | $93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$103,554±$12k about the MA average |
$139,625±$21kHighest 34% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$1,592±$221Lowest 10% 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 | $4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$7,360 23% above MA |
$7,944Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±9.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Newburyport and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA | #56 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Amesbury | Newburyport |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | Newburyport High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.