Compare towns
Lisbon vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Sprague
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Lisbon | Sturbridge | Upton | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
2,962Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.5±10.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Sprague and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lisbon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$92,850±$11k 15% 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 | $315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$273,500±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,247±$144Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Sprague and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,668 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.9Lowest 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sprague School District |
| 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 |
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.