Compare towns
Sidney vs Sturbridge vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Sidney | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% 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 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest 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+ | 33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% 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 | $336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 18 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.