Compare towns
Orange vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Orange | Sturbridge | Upton | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below 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 | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
| Wendell and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,519 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 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 |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.