What stands out worked out from the figures below

Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).

Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Weare	Amesbury
People
Population	9,170Lowest	17,403Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S.	43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Weare and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Weare and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amesbury and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Weare and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S.	$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Weare and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,300±$26kLowest 19% above U.S.	$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$214Lowest 9% above U.S.	$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,272Lowest 101% above U.S.	$7,360Highest 136% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±24.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Weare 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	#84 of 120 in NH	#151 of 282 in MA
School district	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District	Amesbury
High school in town	John Stark Regional High School	Amesbury High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.