Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Union 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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Sutton | Union | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
9,452 |
944Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Union and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Amesbury 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%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. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sutton | Union School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | 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.