Compare towns
Upton vs Ayer 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 expensive homes ($577k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
8,645 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest 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%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 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+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Ayer 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 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Ayer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.