Compare towns
Pelham vs Topsfield vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($837k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Pelham | Topsfield | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335Lowest |
2,624 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Topsfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA |
$191,146±$21kHighest 84% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Topsfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA |
$836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Highest 32% below MA |
$994±$841 44% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472Lowest 25% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pelham | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley |
| 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.