Compare towns
Eliot vs Amesbury vs Nelson vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Eliot | Amesbury | Nelson | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
17,403 |
648Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #151 of 282 in MA | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Amesbury | Nelson School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.