Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dedham vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
25,237Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 23% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Dedham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Dedham High | 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 |
MA 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.