Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sullivan vs Upton vs Brookfield
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%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Sullivan | Upton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
687Lowest |
8,189 |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest 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%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275Highest 13% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
| Sullivan 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. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,092Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Brookfield 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| 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.