Compare towns
Fall River vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Lawrence
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Fall River | Sturbridge | Upton | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
88,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below 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 | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953 34% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lawrence |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.