Compare towns
Arrowsic vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Phippsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arrowsic has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Phippsburg has the shortest commute (21 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 | Arrowsic | Sturbridge | Upton | Phippsburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 597Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
2,238 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±8.7 29% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
54.3±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Phippsburg and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.8%±11.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Phippsburg and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Arrowsic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,107±$27kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$107,833±$19k 34% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $584,200±$150kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$335,800±$47kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Arrowsic and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,600±$412Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,022±$346 28% below U.S. |
| Arrowsic and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,521 13% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,034Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.5%±98.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 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 | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Arrowsic 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.