Compare towns
Northbridge vs Plainfield vs Suffield 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Suffield | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
15,141Lowest |
15,702 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Suffield and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Suffield 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 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Northbridge 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Plainfield School District | Suffield School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Plainfield High School | Suffield High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.3Lowest |
10.9Highest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.