Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sterling vs Upton vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sturbridge has the shortest commute (32 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 | Sterling | Upton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
3,629 |
8,189 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sterling 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$131,568±$34k 63% 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. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
— | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,410 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sterling School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.