Compare towns
Halifax vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Dighton
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 most homeowners (95.5%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
8,193 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% 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 | 22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Halifax 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% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Sturbridge 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 |
$136,646±$19k 31% 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±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
| Upton and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
| Halifax and Dighton 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 |
$6,452Lowest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Halifax 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 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 |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest 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 | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
11.9Highest |
| 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.