Compare towns
New Salem vs Upton vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | New Salem | Upton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±6.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| New Salem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Upton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,000±$40kLowest 36% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$88 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,205±$560Highest 32% below MA |
| Pelham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,509Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,472 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 20% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.4%±8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.