Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Raynham 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 the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Raynham | Upton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
15,505Highest |
8,189Lowest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43±4 8% 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%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
39.7% 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% |
3.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton 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 |
$124,012±$16k 19% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$117,587±$8kLowest 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±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$524,400±$29k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Upton and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Raynham and Charlton 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 |
$6,752 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 25% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 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 | #190 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Bridgewater-Raynham | 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 | None in town | 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.