Compare towns

Amesbury vs Dalton vs Ogunquit vs West Newbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
West Newbury has the highest household income ($180k).

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.

MeasureAmesburyDaltonOgunquitWest Newbury
People
Population
17,403Highest
6,256
1,379Lowest
4,591
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±1.7Lowest
12% above U.S.
49.7±5.8
28% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
49.5±3
27% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Dalton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.9%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
64.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,554±$12k
28% above U.S.
$79,438±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$179,500±$27kHighest
122% above U.S.
West Newbury and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$519,300±$32k
56% above U.S.
$295,700±$26kLowest
11% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$808,200±$47k
143% above U.S.
Ogunquit and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$115Highest
19% above U.S.
$872±$70Lowest
38% below U.S.
—
$1,675±$674
19% above U.S.
Amesbury and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,360
136% above U.S.
$4,276Lowest
37% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$9,240Highest
196% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±10.7
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±19
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
80.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
West Newbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
10% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.5%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #151 of 282 in MA #192 of 282 in MA — #86 of 282 in MA
School district Amesbury Central Berkshire — Pentucket
High school in town Amesbury High Wahconah Regional High — Pentucket Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Lowest
10.9Lowest
—
11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.