Compare towns
Amesbury vs Killingly vs Northbridge vs Merrimac
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 people working from home (17.4%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
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 | Killingly | Northbridge | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
17,867Highest |
16,458 |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Killingly 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly 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 28% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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 56% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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 19% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Merrimac 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. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northbridge | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Killingly High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.