Compare towns
Northbridge vs Sutton vs Williston 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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Williston | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
9,452Lowest |
10,144 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Williston 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%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest 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% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 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±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$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. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% 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%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Sutton | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.