Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Hardwick vs Upton vs Sturbridge
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).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
2,684 |
8,189 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% 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 |
47.8±6.8Highest 20% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±7.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.8%Highest 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% |
5.9%±3.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 32% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$131,568±$34k 27% above 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±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$418,400±$29k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,009±$225Highest 14% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,410 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older 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 9% 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% |
14%±9.4 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Quabbin | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| 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.