Compare towns

Brooklyn vs Upton vs Sturbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).

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.

MeasureBrooklynUptonSturbridge
People
Population
8,517
8,189Lowest
9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±2.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
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+
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooklyn and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,207±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% 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
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,193±$398Highest
16% below U.S.
Sturbridge and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.5%±19.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 min
34% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
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 #113 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA #89 of 282 in MA
School district Brooklyn School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Highest
7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.