Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Ware vs Sturbridge
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%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Ware | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
8,189 |
6,369 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
47.8±6.8Highest 20% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Upton 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±7.8 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$131,568±$34k 27% above MA |
| 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 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$418,400±$29k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$2,009±$225Highest 14% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,410 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.