Compare towns
Amesbury vs Amherst vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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 | Amesbury | Amherst | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
11,861Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Souhegan Coop High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.