Compare towns
Upton vs Walpole vs Canton vs Sturbridge
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 homeowners (86.7%).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Walpole | Canton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
26,388Highest |
24,748 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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 50% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
| Walpole 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 about the MA average |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Canton 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% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Canton 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Walpole High | Canton High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.3 |
13.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.