Compare towns
Salisbury vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Lowest |
44,795Highest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% 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±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
| Salem and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
| Salem and Salisbury 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Salem | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.