Compare towns
Upton vs Rye vs Northbridge 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 highest household income ($156k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% 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 | Rye | Northbridge | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
5,611Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Northbridge 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Northbridge 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Rye School District | Northbridge | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Northbridge High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.8 |
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.