Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dover vs Eliot vs Rockport
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 expensive homes ($519k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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 | Eliot | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
33,364Highest |
7,146 |
3,675Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockport and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Rockport 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% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Amesbury 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,764 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Eliot 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Amesbury | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.