Compare towns
Amesbury vs Needham vs Dedham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Needham | Dedham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Dedham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 23% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Needham | — | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Needham High | — | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.9Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.