Compare towns
Upton vs Hadley vs Sutton 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).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Hadley | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
5,306Lowest |
9,452 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% 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%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 50% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| 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 46% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Hadley and Sturbridge 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 |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hadley | Sutton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Hopkins Academy | Sutton High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
7.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
7.7 |
| 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.