Compare towns
Amesbury vs Northbridge vs South Hampton vs Merrimac
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).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | South Hampton | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
16,458 |
984Lowest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and South Hampton 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% 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% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Merrimac 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. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury 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. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% 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% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Merrimac 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amesbury and South Hampton 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 | — | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Northbridge | South Hampton School District | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Northbridge High | None in town | None in town |
| 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.