Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Upton vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 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 | Sutton | Upton | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.3±2.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,175±$241 33% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
11.2 |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.