Compare towns
Salem vs Upton vs Colchester
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).
Colchester has the most renters (23.5% rent).
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 | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
8,189 |
15,648Highest |
| 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. |
43.5±3.8 12% above U.S. |
| Upton and Colchester 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% |
20.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 53% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$122,390±$14kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Upton and Salem 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. |
$366,800±$16kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150 about the U.S. average |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,474±$153Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Colchester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 114% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,212Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.4%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Colchester 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 | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.