Compare towns
Amesbury vs Nelson vs Hudson vs Northbridge
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 expensive homes ($519k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Nelson | Hudson | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
648Lowest |
20,077Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Amesbury 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Northbridge 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| 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±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | — | #224 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Nelson School District | Hudson | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Hudson High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.2Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.