Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Readfield vs Upton vs Charlton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Charlton has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Readfield | Upton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
2,651Lowest |
8,189 |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43±4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Readfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Readfield 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% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 69% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton 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. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,617 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 38 | 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 | Maranacook Community High Sch | Blackstone Valley | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.5Highest |
11.2 |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.