Compare towns
Amesbury vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Webster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
2,227Lowest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Webster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Northbridge 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Webster 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Webster 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. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amesbury and Webster 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Merrimack Valley 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.