Compare towns
Amesbury vs Saco 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 expensive homes ($519k median).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Saco | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
20,819Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Saco and Northbridge 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% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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 28% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% 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. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Amesbury 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Saco Public Schools | 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 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.