Compare towns
Salisbury vs Amesbury vs South Hampton vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | South Hampton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
17,403Highest |
984Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212Lowest about the U.S. average |
| South Hampton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Amesbury | South Hampton School District | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.