Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Brookfield vs Upton vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Charlton has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Brookfield | Upton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
3,460Lowest |
8,189 |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Brookfield 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 |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% 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±$18k 24% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.