Compare towns
Acushnet vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% 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 | Acushnet | Sturbridge | Upton | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,624 |
9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
15,903Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8Lowest 15% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$354 34% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,647 22% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 | #118 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
11.4Highest |
| 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.