Compare towns
Amesbury vs Hanson 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 people working from home (17.4%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Hanson | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
10,660Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% 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%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Northbridge 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% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson 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 about the MA average |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Hanson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Hanson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Whitman-Hanson | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
14.7Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.