Compare towns
Northbridge vs Wolfeboro vs Sutton 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).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Wolfeboro | Sutton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,458 |
6,571Lowest |
9,452 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% 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±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Sutton 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. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,821 55% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sutton 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northbridge | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Sutton | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Northbridge High | Kingswood Regional High School | Sutton High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.1 |
12.6Highest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.