Compare towns
Sagamore vs Upton vs Berlin vs Sandwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sagamore has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Sandwich has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
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.
| Measure | Sagamore | Upton | Berlin | Sandwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,072 |
8,189 |
3,378Lowest |
20,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±5.8 20% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
51.8±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
| Sandwich and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sagamore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Sagamore and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,315±$38kLowest 4% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$122,486±$12k 18% above MA |
| Upton and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $575,700±$56kLowest about the MA average |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$601,400±$26k 7% above MA |
| Berlin and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,123±$330 20% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,751±$121 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Sagamore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,796Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$6,483 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±73.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
31.9%±13.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sagamore and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #77 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston | Sandwich |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Sandwich Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.