Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Northbridge vs Brookfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
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 | Northbridge | Brookfield | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
16,458Highest |
3,460Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% 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 |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge | Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
10.8 |
— | 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.