Compare towns
New Salem vs Upton vs Petersham
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054Lowest |
8,189Highest |
1,185 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±2.4 39% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Petersham and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and New Salem 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Petersham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Petersham and New Salem 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 |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Upton and Petersham 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 |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$88 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Petersham 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 |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 20% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and New 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Petersham |
| 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.