Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Berlin vs Upton
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 ($426k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Berlin | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
3,378Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% 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 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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+ | 19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 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+ | 49.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% 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 | $425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest 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 | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 minLowest 17% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Berlin-Boylston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.