Compare towns
Northbridge vs Suffield vs Putnam 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).
Suffield has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Suffield | Putnam | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
15,702 |
9,292Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Suffield 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% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Suffield 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 38% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Suffield School District | Putnam School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Suffield High School | Putnam High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.9Highest |
9.5Lowest |
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.