Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Worcester
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below 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±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
| Worcester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
14.6Highest |
| 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.