Compare towns
South Hampton vs Ayer 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
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Ayer | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
8,645 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury 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% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amesbury and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer 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±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury 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. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.