Compare towns
Upton vs Sutton vs Sturbridge vs Wrentham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Sutton | Sturbridge | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
9,960 |
12,297Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.8±3.2 17% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wrentham 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham 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 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
| Upton and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,184±$628 33% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,373 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.6 |
7.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.