Compare towns
Upton vs Amherst vs Sutton 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 expensive homes ($577k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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.
| Measure | Upton | Amherst | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
11,861Highest |
9,452 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% 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 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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 | $155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kLowest 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 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 | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Sutton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Souhegan Coop High School | Sutton High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.4 |
12.6Highest |
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.