Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Worcester vs Upton
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%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
9,452 |
831Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Worcester 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | 11.2 |
| 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.