Compare towns
Hampton vs Sturbridge vs Union 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
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sturbridge has the most renters (13.7% rent).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Hampton | Sturbridge | Union | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
9,960Highest |
944Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Union School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.