Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Upton vs Salisbury vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 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 | Fitzwilliam | Upton | Salisbury | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,278 |
8,189Highest |
1,609Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2 26% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Upton and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,735±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Upton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,900±$34kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,173 66% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Merrimack Valley School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | 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.