Compare towns
Upton vs Newfields vs Wilbraham 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
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Newfields | Wilbraham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
2,023Lowest |
14,572Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% 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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Wilbraham 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$6,658 113% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #88 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Newfields School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 14.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.