Compare towns
Upton vs Salem vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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 | Upton | Salem | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
44,795Highest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Upton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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 | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salem | Middleton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.