Compare towns
Stoneham vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Stoneham | Sturbridge | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Highest |
9,960 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.