Compare towns
Amesbury vs Lee vs Danvers 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 renters (31.4% rent).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Lee | Danvers | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
5,719Lowest |
28,098Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Danvers 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Amesbury 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Lee | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Lee Middle/High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.