Compare towns
Northbridge vs Exeter vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Exeter | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
16,151Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Amesbury 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Exeter High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.