Compare towns
Amesbury vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Plainville has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Exeter | Northbridge | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
16,151 |
16,458 |
9,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2% 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. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 28% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Plainville 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 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% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Exeter 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% |
4.7%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% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Highest 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. |
25 minLowest 6% 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% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Plainville 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Northbridge | Plainville |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Exeter High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.