Compare towns
Upton vs Hingham vs Lenox 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 youngest population (median age 46.4).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Hingham | Lenox | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
24,283Highest |
5,079Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Upton 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% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Hingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,091±$238 38% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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 MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hingham | Lenox | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Hingham High | Lenox Memorial High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.9Highest |
7.6Lowest |
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.