Compare towns
Groton 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
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
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 | Groton | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest 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+ | 70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Groton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Groton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Upton 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.