Compare towns
Springfield vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the shortest commute (34 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Springfield | Sturbridge | Upton | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 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+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% 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 | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest 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 | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Marlow 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 | 4 photos → |
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.