Compare towns
Salisbury vs Pittsfield 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).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Pittsfield | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Lowest |
43,457Highest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Pittsfield 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% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield 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 10% below MA |
$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA |
$103,554±$12kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 15% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% 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 |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% 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 | $4,604 23% below MA |
$4,148Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7Lowest 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% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #251 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Pittsfield | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Taconic High | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.