Compare towns
Maynard 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
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
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 | Maynard | Upton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
8,189Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% 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 | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
| Salem and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salem |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Blackstone Valley | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.