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Living in
Amesbury.
About
Life in Amesbury
This North Shore town offers a genuinely affordable slice of New England life without the Boston price tag, though you'll still feel the region's housing costs—median homes around $519,300 and rent hovering near $1,683 monthly. The job market is solid with unemployment at 4.6%, and most residents work within a reasonable 30-minute commute, giving you flexibility between staying local or heading toward the larger employment hubs in the region. The median household income of around $103,600 is respectable for Massachusetts, and with 42.5% of residents holding college degrees, you'll find a reasonably educated population, though the town itself isn't experiencing explosive growth—population has actually edged down slightly.
Amesbury at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Foreign-Born
7.9%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
+1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.9% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Amesbury: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Amesbury, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (12.8%), and 2.3% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
18.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.9%
of households
Married Couples
44.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.26
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MA
Rent, home values, and income in Amesbury
In Amesbury, home values are 8% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
64.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,360
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
68.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.3%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Amesbury
Unemployment in Essex County, which includes Amesbury, is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Amesbury: Essex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Essex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Amesbury is about 2% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Amesbury Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute29 min avg
How Amesbury residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Amesbury, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 57% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM)
Regional airport · few flights91k passengers boarded in 2025
- 34 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 72% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Amesbury runs 72% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
90.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
545.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Amesbury Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Essex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Essex County, which includes Amesbury, the most common type is strong wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,700 |
| 2024 | 9 | High Wind | $3,500 |
| 2023 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $21,500 |
| 2022 | 19 | Strong Wind | $140,700 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $261,900 |
| 2020 | 37 | High Wind | $63,100 |
| 2019 | 26 | Strong Wind | $171,950 |
| 2018 | 34 | Strong Wind | $564,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Essex County, county-wide
Amesbury is about 2% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Essex County, which includes Amesbury, is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
296
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Essex County, county-wide
Amesbury is about 2% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Amesbury has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
38°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.8"
Annual Snowfall
61.9"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
144
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 16°F | 3.53" |
| Feb | 38°F | 17°F | 3.59" |
| Mar | 45°F | 24°F | 4.80" |
| Apr | 57°F | 34°F | 4.29" |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 4.08" |
| Jun | 76°F | 54°F | 4.23" |
| Jul | 82°F | 61°F | 3.55" |
| Aug | 81°F | 59°F | 3.76" |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 4.01" |
| Oct | 62°F | 40°F | 5.32" |
| Nov | 51°F | 31°F | 3.90" |
| Dec | 40°F | 22°F | 4.52" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Amesbury
Uninsured
2.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Amesbury's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Anna Jaques Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Newburyport
Whittier Pavilion
Psychiatric · 7.8 mi away · Haverhill
Exeter Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Exeter
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Amesbury
Amesbury's student/teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 44.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
44.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Amesbury (within 15 miles)
Northern Essex Community College
6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,685 students · in-state tuition $7,452 · 23% graduate · median earnings $49,727 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lowell National Historical Park, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Amesbury
Amesbury has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lowell National Historical Park (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
27 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
33 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
34 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
34 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
36 mi awayPublic Libraries in Amesbury
Amesbury Public Library
149 Main St., Amesbury
Cities Near Amesbury
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Amesbury?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Amesbury FAQ
Is Amesbury, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Amesbury's median rent is $1,683/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $103,554/year. Median home value is $519,300.
Is Amesbury, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Amesbury's violent crime rate was 91 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 545 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Amesbury, Massachusetts?⌄
Essex County, which includes Amesbury, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Amesbury, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Amesbury is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,683/month and median household income is $103,554/year. The median home value is $519,300. About 65% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Amesbury, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Amesbury is 29 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from