Compare towns
Millbury 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
Millbury has the most affordable homes ($450k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Millbury | Salem | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,961 |
44,795Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Upton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Salem and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 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 | 5% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | #202 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Salem High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.