Compare towns
Hull vs Salem vs Upton vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 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 | Hull | Salem | Upton | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,138 |
44,795Highest |
8,189Lowest |
10,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$103,317±$16k about the MA average |
| Upton and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,589±$465 10% below MA |
| Hull and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089 about the MA average |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brewster |
| High school in town | Hull High | Salem High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
9.8 |
11.2Highest |
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| 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.