Compare towns
Durham vs Amesbury vs Dorchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Durham | Amesbury | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
17,403Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
— |
| Durham and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
— |
| Amesbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Amesbury | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Amesbury High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.