Compare towns
Leicester vs Salisbury vs Upton vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k 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 | Leicester | Salisbury | Upton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,200 |
8,189Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8 25% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brandon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$30k 13% below U.S. |
$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,700±$107k 7% below U.S. |
$306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300 22% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Leicester 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 | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.