Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Middlesex | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
1,943Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| 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%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% 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±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Upton 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 |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.