Compare towns
Tyringham vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Alford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tyringham has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Alford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Tyringham | Sturbridge | Upton | Alford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 494 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7 48% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
| Alford and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.7%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest 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+ | 35.2%±8.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Alford and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
63.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$121,042±$11kLowest 16% above MA |
| Tyringham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96k 24% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
| Alford and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$393 40% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Alford and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,632 23% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,913Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.