Compare towns
Upton vs Putnam vs Sturbridge vs Millis
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 people working from home (22.8%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k 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 | Putnam | Sturbridge | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
9,292 |
9,960Highest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.4±3 19% 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millis 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Millis 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Millis 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Millis 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Putnam School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Millis |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Putnam High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
9.5 |
7.7Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.