Compare towns
Upton vs Brookfield vs Pomfret 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).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Pomfret | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
3,460Lowest |
4,317 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Pomfret 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% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Pomfret 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. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,476±$8k 34% 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. |
$341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Pomfret and Sturbridge 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. |
$5,092Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brookfield | Pomfret School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | 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 | 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.