Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Epping vs Upton vs Charlton
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Epping | Upton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
7,430Lowest |
8,189 |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43±4Lowest 11% 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| 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±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Charlton 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs 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. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Epping School District | 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 | Epping High School | Blackstone Valley | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
9.3 |
11.2Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.