Compare towns
Sutton vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Upton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
32,459Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%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±1.6Lowest 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Sturbridge 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Upton 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr 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 |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | — | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 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.