Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Hardwick vs Upton vs Brookfield
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%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Hardwick | Upton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
2,684Lowest |
8,189 |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest 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%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Hardwick 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% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
| 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 24% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Hardwick 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Quabbin | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.