Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Norfolk vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
Upton has the shortest commute (35 min average).
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 | Norfolk | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
11,673Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Upton 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% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Norfolk and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
35 minLowest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | King Philip · Millis | 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 |
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.