Compare towns
Upton vs Gardner vs Killingly 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).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Gardner | Killingly | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
21,148Highest |
17,867 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 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% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Gardner 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% 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. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Gardner 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. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Gardner High | Killingly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
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.