Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Putnam vs Upton vs Millis

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 the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

MeasureSturbridgePutnamUptonMillis
People
Population
9,960Highest
7,120Lowest
8,189
8,888
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
41.2±5.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
46.4±3
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%±3
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
23.5%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Millis 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
18.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Millis 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.
$65,511±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$155,508±$33k
93% above U.S.
$155,996±$9kHighest
93% above U.S.
Millis 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±$18k
28% above U.S.
$245,100±$13kLowest
26% below U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$603,500±$31kHighest
81% above U.S.
Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,147±$43
19% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,696±$279Highest
20% above U.S.
Millis 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.
$3,564Lowest
14% above U.S.
$8,376
169% above U.S.
$9,344Highest
200% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±12.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
56.5%±16.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Millis and Upton 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%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.5%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #128 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA #63 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua — Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Millis
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High — Blackstone Valley Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
—
11.2Highest
10.7
On TownTapestry
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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.