Compare towns
Upton vs Phippsburg vs Brewer 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).
Phippsburg has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Brewer has the most renters (40.3% rent).
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 | Phippsburg | Brewer | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
2,238Lowest |
9,652 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
54.3±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Phippsburg 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% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Brewer 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% |
34.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$107,833±$19k 34% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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. |
$335,800±$47k about the U.S. average |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,022±$346 28% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Brewer 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. |
$2,034Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.5%±98.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Upton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Brewer Public Schools | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Brewer High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 14.0Highest |
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.