Compare towns
Amesbury vs Durham vs West Newbury
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).
West Newbury has the most expensive homes ($808k 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 | West Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
15,080 |
4,591Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
49.5±3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Newbury 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8% 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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$179,500±$27kHighest 122% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$808,200±$47kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,675±$674 19% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and West Newbury 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. |
$9,240 196% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Newbury and Amesbury 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% |
1.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Newbury 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 | #86 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Oyster River Coop School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Oyster River High School | Pentucket Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.