Compare towns
Amesbury vs Durham vs Hanover
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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.
| Measure | Amesbury | Durham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
15,080 |
11,685Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Highest 12% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Amesbury 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%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% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
66.4%±17.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amesbury | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.