Compare towns
Salisbury vs Ayer vs Amesbury
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 oldest population (median age 51.3).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Ayer | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
8,645Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Amesbury 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$103,554±$12kHighest about the MA average |
| Amesbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA |
| Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,683±$115 4% 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 |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Ayer Shirley School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.