Compare towns
Northbridge vs Chilmark vs Sutton vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Northbridge | Chilmark | Sutton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
1,578Lowest |
9,452 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
| Chilmark and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4 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+ | 16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
| Chilmark and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
| Chilmark and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark and Sutton 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Up-Island Regional | Sutton | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Sutton High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.