Compare towns
Salisbury vs Wells 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%).
Wells has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Amesbury has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Wells | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Lowest |
11,713 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Wells and Salisbury 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% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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±$27kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Wells 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. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% 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 | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.