Compare towns
Dublin vs Sturbridge vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Dublin | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% 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 | $430,500±$72k 29% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Dublin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 162% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest 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 | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Dublin 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.