Compare towns
Amesbury vs Salisbury vs Northbridge vs Hudson
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).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
Hudson has the most homeowners (73.2%).
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 | Salisbury | Northbridge | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
9,281Lowest |
16,458 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hudson 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% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury 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 |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| 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 |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| Amesbury and Hudson 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 |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
| Salisbury 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 |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Hudson 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Triton | Northbridge | Hudson |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Northbridge High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 10.8 |
10.2Lowest |
| 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.