Compare towns
Amesbury vs Durham vs Newfields
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 kids (20% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
15,080 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% 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% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Amesbury 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. |
$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%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.