Compare towns
Halifax vs Upton vs Sturbridge vs Pembroke
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 youngest population (median age 41.9).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (35 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 | Upton | Sturbridge | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
8,189 |
9,960 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest 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%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Pembroke 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Upton and Pembroke 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Pembroke 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.