Compare towns
Peru 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
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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.
| Measure | Peru | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
| Peru and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above 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 | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest 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 | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | — | #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 |
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.