Compare towns
Durham vs Newton vs Amesbury
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).
Newton has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Newton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
4,836Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Newton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amesbury and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Newton and Durham 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. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above 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±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,124 160% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | 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.