Compare towns
South Hampton vs Newington vs Nelson 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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Newington | Nelson | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
939 |
648Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Newington 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%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton 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% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Newington 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. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Hampton 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. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Newington 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest 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 | Newington School District | Nelson 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.