Compare towns
Upton vs Belgrade 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).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Belgrade | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
3,351Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Belgrade and Sturbridge 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% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Belgrade 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% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Sturbridge 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. |
$88,338±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| 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 73% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 18 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.