Compare towns
Upton vs Atkinson vs Sturbridge vs Millis
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Atkinson | Sturbridge | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
7,267Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
46.4±3Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 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+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Millis 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% |
42.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kLowest 69% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Millis 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 73% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Millis and Upton 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. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Millis 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. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Timberlane Regional School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Millis |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.