Compare towns
Amesbury vs Salem vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Amesbury | Salem | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403 |
44,795Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest 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%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Amesbury and Salem 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% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above 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±$32k 8% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Salem and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Salem and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Salem | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Salem High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.