Compare towns
Upton vs Hanover vs Millis 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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Millis | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
11,685Highest |
8,888 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
46.4±3 19% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 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%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9k 93% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kLowest 69% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31k 81% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,344 200% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Millis 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #63 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Hanover High School | Millis High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.7 |
10.7 |
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.