Compare towns
Upton vs Andover vs Fall River vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Andover | Fall River | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
36,652 |
94,082Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Andover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | B M C Durfee High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.8Highest |
11.3 |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.