Compare towns
Upton vs Dedham vs Norfolk vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Dedham | Norfolk | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
25,237Highest |
11,673 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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±$33k 50% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Norfolk and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Dedham and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 min 24% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Upton 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dedham | King Philip · Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Dedham High | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.4 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.