Compare towns
Montville vs Upton vs Plainfield vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montville has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% 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 | Montville | Upton | Plainfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,950Highest |
8,189 |
15,141 |
4,282Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.8±4.1 10% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
| Upton and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Montville and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,454±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$123,245±$8k 53% above U.S. |
| Upton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,600±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,187±$99 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,565 46% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Montville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #95 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Montville School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Plainfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Montville High School | Blackstone Valley | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.