Compare towns
Upton vs Lee vs Hull 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 people working from home (22.8%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Lee | Hull | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
5,719Lowest |
10,138Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Hull and Lee 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% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Hull 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Hull and Upton 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 |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lee | Hull | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Lee Middle/High School | Hull High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.2 |
8.8 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.