Compare towns
South Hampton vs Franconia vs Newfields 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 most kids (23.3% under 18).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Franconia | Newfields | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,060 |
2,023 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Franconia 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% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 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%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Franconia 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. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newfields 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. |
$1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newfields 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. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Amesbury 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Newfields School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.