Compare towns
Quinebaug vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Sturbridge has the most renters (13.7% rent).
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 | Quinebaug | Sturbridge | Upton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,193 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
944Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 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+ | 29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% 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 | $237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug and Upton 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 | Union School District |
| High school 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 |
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.