What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the oldest population (median age 43.7).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest 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%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% 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.	$504,300±$41kLowest 52% 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.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
	Amesbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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%	66.4%±16Lowest 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%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Amesbury	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Amesbury High	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.