Compare towns

Mansfield vs Sturbridge vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

MeasureMansfieldSturbridgeUpton
People
Population
23,931Highest
9,960
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
47.2±2.6Highest
18% above MA
46.4±4.8
16% 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
22.4%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
20.7%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.8%±3
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Highest
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+
51.1%
MA: 47.3%
49.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Mansfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,273±$15kLowest
21% above MA
$136,759±$15k
32% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% 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
$603,500±$28kHighest
7% above MA
$425,800±$18kLowest
24% below MA
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
Mansfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,803±$147Highest
about the MA average
$1,193±$398
32% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,226
21% above MA
$6,520Lowest
9% above MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
42%±17.7
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Highest
MA: 10%
3.7%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.3%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
16 yrs newer than MA
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
13% above MA
38 minHighest
30% above MA
35 min
22% above MA
Work from home
20%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
19.8%±4.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Upton and Mansfield 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 #60 of 282 in MA #89 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Mansfield Sturbridge · Tantasqua Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Mansfield High Tantasqua Regional Sr High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
7.7Lowest
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.