Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Bethlehem | Sturbridge | Upton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9 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+ | 24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18k 35% 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 | $410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,364 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None 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.