Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Thompson 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
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | Thompson | Upton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
9,337 |
8,189 |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Brookfield 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7 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% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Thompson 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% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Brookfield 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Upton 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs 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 20% 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% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
7.9 |
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.