Compare towns
Upton vs Hebron vs Putnam 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).
Hebron has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Hebron | Putnam | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
9,157 |
9,292 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% 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% |
20.8%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Hebron 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% |
18.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hebron 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. |
$142,500±$23k 77% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Hebron 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. |
$385,800±$15k 16% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,635±$241Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Hebron 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. |
$8,263 165% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±28.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hebron 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hebron 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 | #28 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hebron School District · Regional School District 08 | Putnam School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | RHAM High School | Putnam High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.3 |
9.5 |
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.