What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amesbury	Northbridge
People
Population	17,403Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4% MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Amesbury and Northbridge 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 MA: 47.3%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	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±$12kLowest about the MA average	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA
	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 8% below MA	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,360Highest 23% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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%Lowest MA: 10%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Amesbury	Northbridge
High school in town	Amesbury High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.