Compare towns
Sterling vs Upton vs Sutton vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Sterling | Upton | Sutton | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
8,189 |
9,452Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
7.5Lowest |
| 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.