Compare towns
Salem vs Upton vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Bolton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Salem | Upton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3.3 12% above U.S. |
| Upton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bolton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$126,364±$19k 57% above U.S. |
| Upton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$367,600±$17kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,127±$55 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Lowest 114% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$8,091 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±30.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Bolton 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.