Compare towns
Conway vs Upton vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Conway | Upton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,755Lowest |
8,189 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 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+ | 31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,250±$11kLowest 6% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above 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 | $395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Conway and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,797Lowest 3% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Conway 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Conway | 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 |
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.