Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Wellesley vs Brookfield
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%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
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 | Wellesley | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
8,189 |
30,347Highest |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley 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%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Upton 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% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wellesley | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Wellesley Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.8 |
— |
| 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.