Compare towns
Salisbury vs Saco 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 oldest population (median age 51.3).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Saco | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Lowest |
20,819Highest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%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% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above 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. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above 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. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% 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 | $4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Saco Public Schools | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.