Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dover vs South Hampton
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 most renters (31.4% rent).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Amesbury | Dover | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
2,308 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Dover and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amesbury and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Amesbury | — | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.