Compare towns
Amesbury vs Newton vs Dublin vs Plainville
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 expensive homes ($519k median).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Dublin has the most people working from home (22%).
Plainville has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Newton | Dublin | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
4,836 |
1,688Lowest |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Amesbury 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% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$104,659±$14k 30% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Newton and Dublin 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. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$8,124 160% above U.S. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Newton 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | — | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Sanborn Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Plainville |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.