Compare towns
Nelson vs Dublin 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
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Dublin has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
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 | Nelson | Dublin | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,688 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dublin and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$104,659±$14kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,325±$165 6% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Dublin 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 |
| School district | Nelson School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.