Compare towns
Sutton vs Upton vs Bernardston 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 youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Upton | Bernardston | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452 |
8,189 |
2,164Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Bernardston and Sturbridge 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
$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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Bernardston 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,516Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Pioneer Valley | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town | 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.