Compare towns

Glocester vs Upton vs Sturbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

MeasureGlocesterUptonSturbridge
People
Population
10,221Highest
8,189Lowest
9,960
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Lowest
19% above U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Sturbridge and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,508±$7kLowest
41% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% 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
$396,500±$28kLowest
19% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,248Lowest
68% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Glocester and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minLowest
30% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #12 of 38 in RI #46 of 282 in MA #89 of 282 in MA
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Ponaganset High School Blackstone Valley Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.2
7.7Lowest
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.