Compare towns
Amesbury vs Eliot vs Hampton Falls 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 renters (31.4% rent).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Eliot | Hampton Falls | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
7,146 |
2,328Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%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% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 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±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Hampton Falls 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%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. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton Falls School District | 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 Our Story | 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.