Compare towns
Amesbury vs Durham vs South Hampton
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 housing (typical home built 1969).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
South Hampton has the most homeowners (88.6%).
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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
15,080 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Amesbury 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% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amesbury and South Hampton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$9,109 192% 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% |
30%±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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%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. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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 | South Hampton 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.