Compare towns
Ashland vs Sturbridge vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Ashland | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Highest |
9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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+ | 18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above 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 | $611,700±$18kHighest 9% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Ashland and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 26% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 minLowest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Ashland 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.