Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Upton vs Windsor Locks

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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.

MeasureSturbridgeUptonWindsor Locks
People
Population
9,960
8,189Lowest
12,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
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%±3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±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%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%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%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks 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
69% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$81,205±$13kLowest
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.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
Windsor Locks 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.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Upton 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%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Lowest
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 #109 of 149 in CT
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
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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.