Compare towns
Bartlett vs Upton vs Sturbridge vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Bartlett | Upton | Sturbridge | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281 |
8,189 |
9,960Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| Bartlett and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below 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 | $371,400±$78k 12% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Bartlett and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.