Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Bethany vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Bethany has the most homeowners (97.2%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Sturbridge | Bethany | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
5,288Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.5±2.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bethany and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kLowest 69% above U.S. |
$166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Bethany and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$418,000±$42kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$8,313 167% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest 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 | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | 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 |
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.