Compare towns
Thompson vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Quinebaug
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Thompson | Sturbridge | Upton | Quinebaug |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
1,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Sturbridge and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822 23% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Thompson School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.