Compare towns
Salisbury vs Temple 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%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k 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 | Temple | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
1,363Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Temple 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% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Temple 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. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% 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. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% 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. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%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 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Contoocook Valley School District | 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.