Compare towns
Northbridge vs Marlow 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).
Marlow has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Marlow | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
855Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Marlow 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% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Marlow 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% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 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 | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Marlow School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 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.