Compare towns
Quincy 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
Quincy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Quincy | Salem | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 102,114Highest |
44,795 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±0.8Lowest 4% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,882±$5k 5% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $618,500±$14kHighest 10% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Quincy and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,118±$59Highest 20% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,381 6% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | 10.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.2%±1.8Lowest 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 | #147 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quincy | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | North Quincy High | Salem High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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.