Compare towns
Amesbury vs Eliot vs Topsham 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).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Eliot | Topsham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
7,146Lowest |
9,706 |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest 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. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6 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% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Topsham 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% |
50%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% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Amesbury 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. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% 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±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Amesbury 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. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% 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% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% 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. |
1980Highest same as 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. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | 12.2Highest |
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.