Compare towns

Amesbury vs Rye vs Northbridge

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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.

MeasureAmesburyRyeNorthbridge
People
Population
17,403Highest
5,611Lowest
16,458
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±1.7Lowest
12% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
43.8±2.6
13% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3Highest
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.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$111,319±$19k
38% above U.S.
Rye and Northbridge 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.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$448,600±$15kLowest
35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$115
19% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,207±$102Lowest
15% below U.S.
Rye 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.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$4,821Lowest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8
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%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
10% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #151 of 282 in MA #2 of 120 in NH #226 of 282 in MA
School district Amesbury Rye School District Northbridge
High school in town Amesbury High None in town Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Highest
—
10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.