Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dublin vs Nelson
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).
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Dublin | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
1,688 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Amesbury 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% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dublin 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% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Nelson 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% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dublin 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. |
$104,659±$14kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Amesbury 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. |
$430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Amesbury and Dublin 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. |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Nelson 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Dublin 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 | — | — |
| School district | Amesbury | Contoocook Valley School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.