Compare towns
Natick 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
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Natick | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 8% 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 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest 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 | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Natick 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Natick High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
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.