Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Brookfield vs Upton vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Brookfield | Upton | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
3,460Lowest |
8,189 |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 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% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Millis 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% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Millis 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±$33k 50% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
| Millis 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 24% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
| Millis 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 |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
| Millis 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 |
$5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Upton 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% 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% |
17.5%±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 | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Millis |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.