Compare towns
Amesbury vs Gardner 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 expensive homes ($519k median).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Gardner | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
21,148Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Amesbury 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Gardner 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 about the MA average |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| 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 8% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Amesbury and Northbridge 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Gardner | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Gardner High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
13.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.