Compare towns
Northbridge vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Amesbury has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Dover | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
5,930Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
| Dover and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Northbridge 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Amesbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Northbridge 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
| Dover and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,360 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.8Lowest |
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.