Compare towns

Sutton vs Upton vs Newfields vs Sturbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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.

MeasureSuttonUptonNewfieldsSturbridge
People
Population
9,452
8,189
2,023Lowest
9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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
82% above U.S.
$155,508±$33k
93% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kLowest
69% above U.S.
Newfields 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
57% above U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$425,800±$18kLowest
28% above U.S.
Newfields and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
Newfields and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$8,376
169% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,520Lowest
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Upton 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 Newfields School District 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

U.S. 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.