Compare towns
Chelsea vs Fall River vs Upton vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.9%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k 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 | Chelsea | Fall River | Upton | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,908 |
94,082 |
8,189Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3 14% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,179±$8k 31% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96 11% above MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Boston 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 | #280 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | B M C Durfee High | Blackstone Valley | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.3 |
11.2Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| 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.