Compare towns
Amesbury vs Salisbury vs Plainville vs Northbridge
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).
Plainville has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Salisbury | Plainville | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
9,281Lowest |
9,943 |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Plainville 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 MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury 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±$12k about the MA average |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Plainville 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 |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Amesbury and Salisbury 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±$411 4% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Plainville and Salisbury 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 |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Triton | Plainville | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | 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 | 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.