Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Gardner vs Upton vs Sutton
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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Gardner | Upton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
21,148Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| 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 24% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| 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 32% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| 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 9% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older 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 |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Gardner | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Gardner High | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.2 |
12.6 |
| 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.