Compare towns

Sutton vs Upton vs Rye 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

Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.

MeasureSuttonUptonRyeSturbridge
People
Population
9,452
8,189
5,611Lowest
9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Lowest
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%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%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%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
82% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kLowest
69% above U.S.
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
57% above U.S.
$576,700±$41k
73% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$425,800±$18kLowest
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$7,519
141% 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%
44.3%±16.1
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
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%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye 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 #2 of 120 in NH #89 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Rye 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
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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.