Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Whitman
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 most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Whitman 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% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%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%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman 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 |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% 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±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 minLowest 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | 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 |
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.