Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Sturbridge | Upton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,443Lowest |
8,189Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±6.8 20% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±7.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,568±$34k 27% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,400±$29kLowest 26% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$225 14% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410Lowest 7% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.