Compare towns
Amesbury vs Plainville vs North Attleborough Town vs West Newbury
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 renters (31.4% rent).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
North Attleborough Town has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
West Newbury has the highest household income ($180k).
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 | Plainville | North Attleborough Town | West Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
9,943 |
30,984Highest |
4,591Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
42.4±1.4Lowest 6% above MA |
49.5±3Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| North Attleborough Town 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.4% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| North Attleborough Town and Plainville 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 |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$112,665±$5k 8% above MA |
$179,500±$27kHighest 73% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$482,200±$16k 14% below MA |
$808,200±$47kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,509±$102Lowest 14% below MA |
$1,675±$674 5% below MA |
| Plainville and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 23% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$5,461 9% below MA |
$9,240Highest 54% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Newbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
1.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.1% MA: 62.5% |
95.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| West Newbury 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #94 of 282 in MA | #86 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Plainville | North Attleborough | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | North Attleboro High | Pentucket Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.