Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Upton vs Worcester vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
8,189 |
831Lowest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Westminster 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Upton 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% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.