Compare towns
Upton vs Berlin vs Sturbridge vs Northbridge
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).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Berlin | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
20,361Highest |
9,960 |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.7±3Highest 25% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Berlin 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% |
19.4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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% |
23.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin 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. |
$113,598±$11k 41% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% 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. |
$374,600±$13kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,402±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,291 134% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Upton 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 | #73 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Berlin High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.