Compare towns
Amesbury vs Berlin vs Middlesex 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 most expensive homes ($519k median).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Berlin | Middlesex | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
2,880 |
1,943Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.