Compare towns

Newton vs Amesbury vs Dunbarton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).

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.

MeasureNewtonAmesburyDunbarton
People
Population
4,836
17,403Highest
3,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.8±5.7
23% above U.S.
43.7±1.7Lowest
12% above U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
Amesbury and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dunbarton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$138,487±$29kHighest
72% above U.S.
$103,554±$12kLowest
28% above U.S.
$124,348±$21k
54% above U.S.
Newton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$459,500±$18kLowest
38% above U.S.
$519,300±$32kHighest
56% above U.S.
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
Amesbury and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$96Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,683±$115Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,124
160% above U.S.
$7,360Lowest
136% above U.S.
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±41.8
U.S.: 51.1%
66.7%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7Lowest
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
7.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
15% above U.S.
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newton 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 #70 of 120 in NH #151 of 282 in MA #33 of 120 in NH
School district Sanborn Regional School District Amesbury Dunbarton School District
High school in town None in town Amesbury High None in town
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.