Compare towns
Plympton vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plympton has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Plympton | Sturbridge | Upton | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,935 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.2Lowest 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Oakham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Upton and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,628 11% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±40.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 min 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | #110 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Plympton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.