Compare towns
Pepperell vs Upton vs Sturbridge vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Pepperell | Upton | Sturbridge | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
8,189 |
9,960 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±6.3 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 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8 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+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% 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 | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,139±$301 35% below MA |
| Pepperell and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,871 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.