What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).

Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amesbury	Durham
People
Population	17,403Highest	10,681Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S.	20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S.	$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S.
	Durham 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.	$498,000±$45kLowest 50% above U.S.
	Amesbury and Durham 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.	$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amesbury and Durham 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%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amesbury and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	—
High school in town	Amesbury High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.