Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Dover vs Sutton 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Dover | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
5,930Lowest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 32% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Dover 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
9.8 |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.