Compare towns
Sutton vs Middleton 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Sutton | Middleton | Upton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
9,816 |
8,189Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
41.7%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% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
| Middleton and Upton 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 |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,407±$284Highest 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Middleton 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 |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Middleton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.