Compare towns
Marlborough vs Sutton vs Upton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Marlborough | Sutton | Upton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,647 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9k 12% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Upton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,747Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #215 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salem |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.