Compare towns
Northbridge vs Dalton 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 highest household income ($111k).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k 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 | Northbridge | Dalton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
6,256Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
| Dalton and Northbridge 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% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$103,554±$12k 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 | $448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 20% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Amesbury and Northbridge 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Central Berkshire | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Wahconah Regional High | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.