Compare towns
Northbridge vs Thompson 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 highest household income ($111k).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
9,337Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±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±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Amesbury 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% 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% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amesbury and Northbridge 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Thompson School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
7.9Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.