Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Wayne 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
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
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 | Wayne | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
8,189 |
1,101Lowest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Brookfield 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Brookfield 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Brookfield 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 38 | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
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.