Compare towns
Amesbury vs North Hampton vs Plainville 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 renters (31.4% rent).
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Plainville has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | North Hampton | Plainville | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
4,543Lowest |
9,943 |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest 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% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| North Hampton 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. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainville and North Hampton 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. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Plainville 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton and Plainville 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #102 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | North Hampton School District | Plainville | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | — | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.