Compare towns
Upton vs Mendon vs Dover 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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Mendon | Dover | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
6,325 |
2,308Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Dover and Sturbridge 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% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
— | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Mendon 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% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mendon-Upton | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | — | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.