Amesbury vs West Newbury
You are paying about $300k more for a 4BR in West Newbury, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $300k for 28 MCAS percentile points inside the same tier.
On tax, look past the rate: Amesbury works out roughly $2,300 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR — despite having the higher rate of the two, because the bill follows the house.
Choose Amesbury if you want the lower price.
All Amesbury numbers →Choose West Newbury if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All West Newbury numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Amesbury | West Newbury | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS percentile | 36th | 64th |
| Niche district rank | — | 94th of 236 |
| 4BR house | $650kT2 | $950kT3 |
| 2BR condo | $370k | $535k |
| Commute to Boston | 74 minT4 | 70 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Tax rate | $15.50T4 | $13.00T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$10,100 | ≈$12,400 |
| 3BR rent | $3,080/mo | $3,280/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
