Compare towns
Upton vs Sturbridge vs Putnam vs Northbridge
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).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Sturbridge | Putnam | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
9,960 |
9,292 |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 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%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 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. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Putnam School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Putnam High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
9.5 |
10.8 |
| 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.