Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Walpole vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Charlton has the shortest commute (33 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 | Upton | Walpole | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
26,388Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43±4 8% 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%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Walpole 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 |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA |
| Walpole and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Walpole High | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
11.3Highest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.