Compare towns
Upton vs Newfields vs Windham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Newfields | Windham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
2,023Lowest |
16,038Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% 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% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kLowest 69% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Windham 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±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Windham and Newfields 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±$323 33% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Windham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer 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 |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
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% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Newfields School District | Windham School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Windham High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 12.8Highest |
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.