Compare towns
Amesbury vs Northbridge vs Sharon
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).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Northbridge | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
16,458 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Sharon 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% 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. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.