Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Hampton vs Upton vs Southbridge Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Southbridge Town has the most renters (57.3% rent).
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 | Southbridge Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
1,647Lowest |
8,189 |
17,928Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
40.9±2.4Lowest 5% 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% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Southbridge Town 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Southbridge Town 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±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$66,287±$8kLowest 18% below 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±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$294,800±$18kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,256±$79 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Southbridge Town 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Southbridge Town 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #282 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hampton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Southbridge |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Southbridge High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.