Compare towns
Upton vs Sharon vs Millis 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 people working from home (22.8%).
Sharon has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
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 | Sharon | Millis | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
442Lowest |
8,888 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
49.4±11.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.4±3Lowest 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Sharon 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% |
22.4%±8.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sharon 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% |
31.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Millis 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% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 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. |
$113,125±$19kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% 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. |
$475,900±$38k 43% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% 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. |
$1,458±$1k 3% above U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Millis and Sharon 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. |
$8,274 165% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 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% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 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 | — | #63 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — | Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | — | Millis High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.7 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.