Compare towns
Berlin vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Berlin | Sturbridge | Upton | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
2,443Lowest |
8,189 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
47.8±6.8 20% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±7.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
55.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$131,568±$34k 27% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$418,400±$29kLowest 26% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| Berlin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,009±$225 14% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$6,410Lowest 7% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Upton 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| 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.