Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Woolwich vs Lancaster
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 highest household income ($156k).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Woolwich | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
8,189 |
3,158Lowest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% 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% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Lancaster 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. |
$102,175±$26kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Woolwich 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #92 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Nashoba |
| 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.