Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dover vs Topsham
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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
33,364Highest |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Topsham 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Dover 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±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Dover 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Amesbury | Dover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Dover Senior High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.