Compare towns
Eastham 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
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Eastham | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,811Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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+ | 40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% 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 | $732,200±$63kHighest 30% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,747±$101Highest about the MA average |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 36% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Eastham 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Eastham · Nauset | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Nauset Regional High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.