Compare towns
Amesbury vs Hudson vs Northbridge vs Salisbury
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).
Hudson has the most homeowners (73.2%).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Hudson | Northbridge | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
20,077Highest |
16,458 |
9,281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury 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 |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below 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 |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
| Amesbury and Hudson 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 |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
| Salisbury 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 |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Hudson | Northbridge | Triton |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Hudson High | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.2Lowest |
10.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.