Compare towns
Salisbury vs Gorham 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
Salisbury has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Salisbury | Gorham | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
2,682Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Salisbury 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. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| 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 20% above U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Amesbury 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. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.