Compare towns
Halifax vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Ashburnham has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Halifax | Sturbridge | Upton | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above 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 | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 14% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| 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.