Compare towns
Upton vs Exeter vs Sturbridge vs Sutton
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Exeter | Sturbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
7,195Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% 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% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.