Compare towns
Douglas vs Sturbridge vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Douglas | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
9,960Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest 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 | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
7.7 |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.