Compare towns
Gorham vs Sturbridge vs Sutton 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
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Sturbridge | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,682Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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+ | 31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,334Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.