Compare towns

Plainfield vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Brooklyn

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

MeasurePlainfieldSturbridgeUptonBrooklyn
People
Population
15,141Highest
2,443Lowest
8,189
8,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
47.8±6.8Highest
23% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
45.6±2.5
17% 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
19.4%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±7.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Sturbridge and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,993±$8kLowest
5% below U.S.
$131,568±$34k
63% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$96,207±$15k
19% 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
$272,100±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
$418,400±$29k
26% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$315,200±$28k
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$70
15% below U.S.
$2,009±$225Highest
42% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,125±$98
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,209Lowest
35% above U.S.
$6,410
106% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$4,538
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
29.1%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 min
20% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±9.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4
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 #131 of 149 in CT #89 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #113 of 149 in CT
School district Plainfield School District — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Brooklyn School District
High school in town Plainfield High School — Blackstone Valley None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
—
11.2Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.