Compare towns
Upton vs Cornish 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).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Cornish | Sturbridge | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
1,816Lowest |
9,960 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge 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. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 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. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below 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. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Northbridge 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. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Cornish School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 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.