Compare towns
Northbridge vs Salisbury vs Upton 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 affordable homes ($449k median).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($764k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Amesbury has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Salisbury | Upton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
4,224Lowest |
8,189 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.2±9.9 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Upton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
58.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$124,256±$26k 54% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Upton and Salisbury 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. |
$763,700±$121kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,846±$736Highest 31% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$5,125 64% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Upton 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Upton 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 | #19 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Salisbury School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.