Compare towns
Upton vs Thompson vs Maynard 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
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 | Thompson | Maynard | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
9,337 |
10,712Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Maynard 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Upton and Maynard 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 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 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Maynard 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #166 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Thompson School District | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
7.9 |
— | 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.