Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Bethlehem vs Upton vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Bethlehem | Upton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
3,423Lowest |
8,189 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Bethlehem 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 69% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% 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 | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above 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 | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #82 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Regional School District 14 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.