Compare towns
Amesbury vs Northbridge vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
16,458Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Amesbury 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Northbridge 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 about the MA average |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below 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±$15k 20% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Northbridge | Webster |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Northbridge High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.8Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.