Compare towns
Amesbury vs Hudson vs Northbridge vs Sutton
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 renters (31.4% rent).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
20,077Highest |
16,458 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% 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 |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 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%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Sutton 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Amesbury 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±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763 13% above 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% |
47.5%±24.4 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% MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest 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 |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Hudson | Northbridge | Sutton |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Hudson High | Northbridge High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.2Lowest |
10.8 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.