Compare towns
Northbridge vs Windsor Locks vs Windsor Locks 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).
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 | Windsor Locks | Windsor Locks | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
12,579Lowest |
12,579Lowest |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Amesbury 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%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% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs 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. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #226 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | — | Windsor Locks School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | — | Windsor Locks High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
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.