Compare towns
Ashford vs Union vs Upton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the most renters (23.2% rent).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Salem has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Ashford | Union | Upton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
944Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$123,245±$8k 53% above U.S. |
| Upton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 124% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Ashford 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Union School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.