Compare towns
Upton vs Monroe vs Canton 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).
Monroe has the most homeowners (95.7%).
Canton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Monroe | Canton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
18,949Highest |
10,144 |
9,960 |
| 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. |
43.5±2.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.3±5.2 16% 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% |
25.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Upton 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% |
57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Monroe 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±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$157,250±$12kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$117,991±$20kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Monroe 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±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$503,200±$31k 51% above U.S. |
$395,300±$24kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$994±$860 30% below U.S. |
$1,403±$358Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Canton 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,232 132% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±28.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Monroe School District | Canton School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Masuk High School | Canton High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.8Highest |
9.6 |
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.