Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dublin vs Newton vs Merrimac
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).
Dublin has the most people working from home (22%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Dublin | Newton | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
1,688Lowest |
4,836 |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Dublin 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% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin 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% |
25%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Dublin 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% |
45.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Dublin 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. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Newton and Merrimac 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. |
$430,500±$72kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Amesbury 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±$165Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$8,124 160% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% 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% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin and Newton 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 | — | #70 of 120 in NH | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Contoocook Valley School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | 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 | 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.