Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Wells
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 the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Wells and Sturbridge 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Wells 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.