Compare towns
Milton 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
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Milton | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,587Highest |
9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
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 | 25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Milton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$281Highest 16% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Milton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Milton 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 | 85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 8% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Milton and Upton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Milton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Milton High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.