Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Worcester vs Brookfield vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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.
| Measure | Sturbridge | Worcester | Brookfield | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
207,055Highest |
3,460Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% 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±$18k 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,014±$161 42% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Brookfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | South High Community | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.