Compare towns
South Hampton vs Amesbury vs Kensington vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | South Hampton | Amesbury | Kensington | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
17,403Highest |
2,009 |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest 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 | $152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kensington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 192% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 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 | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Kensington 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 | — | #151 of 282 in MA | — | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Amesbury | Kensington School District | Triton |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.