Compare towns
Northbridge vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Webster | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,458 |
2,227Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Webster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% |
30.7%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% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Webster 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Webster 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. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amesbury and Webster 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 | — | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Merrimack Valley School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 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.