Compare towns
Sutton vs Dudley vs Upton vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Dudley has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sutton | Dudley | Upton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
11,929Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 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+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 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+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Dudley and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
14.3Highest |
11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.