Compare towns
Woburn vs Upton vs Beverly vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% 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 | Woburn | Upton | Beverly | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,939 |
8,189Lowest |
42,665 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.6 about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Woburn and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Beverly 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 | #169 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Woburn | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Beverly | Salem |
| High school in town | Woburn High | Blackstone Valley | Beverly High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.2 |
12.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.