Compare towns
Salisbury vs Needham vs Needham 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).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Needham | Needham | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$103,554±$12k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,360 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | — | Needham | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.