Compare towns
Brookfield vs Upton vs Sturbridge vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
North Brookfield has the most renters (30.7% 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 | Brookfield | Upton | Sturbridge | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
8,189 |
9,960Highest |
4,760 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
45.2±9.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 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+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$79,285±$11kLowest 24% 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 | $341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.7 |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.