Compare towns
Berlin vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Marlborough has the most renters (44% 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 | Berlin | Sturbridge | Upton | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
9,960 |
8,189 |
41,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below 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% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Marlborough 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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest 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% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±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 |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$91,968±$9kLowest 12% 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 | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$513,100±$28k 9% 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 |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,871±$123 6% above MA |
| Berlin and Marlborough 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 |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,747Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
56%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±2.4Lowest 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 | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.1 |
| 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.