Compare towns
Beverly vs Upton vs Mendon vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% 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 | Beverly | Upton | Mendon | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
8,189 |
6,325Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Upton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Upton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Beverly and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Mendon and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mendon-Upton | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.2 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.