Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Plainfield vs Upton vs Charlton
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Charlton has the shortest commute (33 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 | Plainfield | Upton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
616Lowest |
8,189 |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and Plainfield 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,617 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 30% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — | Blackstone Valley | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.