Compare towns
Hardwick vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
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 | Hardwick | Sturbridge | Upton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,684Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
5,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% 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 | 20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$107,727±$13k 4% 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 | $346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Quabbin Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.