Compare towns
Florida vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Florida | Sturbridge | Upton | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 668 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
630Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 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+ | 30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% 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 | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
— |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Florida | 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 | 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.