Compare towns
Amesbury vs Eliot vs Northbridge vs Plainville
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).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
Plainville has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Northbridge | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
7,146Lowest |
16,458 |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Plainville 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% 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% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Northbridge | Plainville |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| 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.