Compare towns

Pascoag vs Sturbridge vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pascoag has the youngest population (median age 39.1).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).

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.

MeasurePascoagSturbridgeUpton
People
Population
4,410Lowest
9,960Highest
8,189
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.1±3.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Pascoag and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,369±$34kLowest
50% above U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% 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
$365,000±$47kLowest
10% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,319±$444Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Pascoag and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,395Lowest
41% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±27.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minLowest
34% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
35 minLowest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
7.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
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 — #89 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district — Sturbridge · Tantasqua Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town — Tantasqua Regional Sr High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.7Lowest
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.