Compare towns
Upton vs Norfolk vs Sutton 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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Norfolk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Norfolk | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
1,723Lowest |
9,452 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Norfolk 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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 93% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,065Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norfolk School District | Sutton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Sutton High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 12.6Highest |
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.