Compare towns
Upton vs Deep River vs Canton 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).
Deep River has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Deep River | Canton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
4,458Lowest |
10,144Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
46.2±5.6 19% above U.S. |
45.3±5.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Canton 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% |
22.1%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Deep River 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. |
$90,253±$19kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$117,991±$20k 46% 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. |
$362,200±$26kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$395,300±$24k 19% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,221±$185 14% below U.S. |
$1,403±$358Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Canton and Deep River 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. |
$6,092Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$7,232 132% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±22.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±28.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Deep River 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Canton School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Valley Regional High School | Canton High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.3 |
9.6 |
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.