Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Hampton vs Upton
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 most affordable homes ($426k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Hampton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
10,101Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Sturbridge 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% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Hampton 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. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% 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. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Hampton 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.