Compare towns

Upton vs Killingly vs Groton 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

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
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.

MeasureUptonKillinglyGrotonSturbridge
People
Population
8,189Lowest
17,867Highest
11,390
9,960
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.8
19% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.4±2.7
6% 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%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.3%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
Groton and Upton 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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.8Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Groton and Killingly 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
93% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$192,958±$27kHighest
139% above U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% above U.S.
Groton 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
73% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$743,400±$46kHighest
123% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,458±$335Highest
3% above U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
Groton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,376
169% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
43.8%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Groton 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
34% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 min
22% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.5%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Groton 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 #136 of 149 in CT #39 of 282 in MA #89 of 282 in MA
School district Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Groton-Dunstable Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Blackstone Valley Killingly High School Groton Dunstable Regional Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
11.1
13.7Highest
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.