Compare towns
Upton vs Eastham vs Marblehead vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Eastham | Marblehead | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
5,811Lowest |
20,413Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Marblehead 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% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
54.4% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Marblehead 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 |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Marblehead 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 |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Marblehead and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham 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 MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #17 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Eastham · Nauset | Marblehead | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Nauset Regional High | Marblehead High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.8 |
10.7 |
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.