Compare towns
Framingham vs Salem vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Framingham | Salem | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
44,795 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Framingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 15% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Salem 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Salem High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.