Compare towns
Upton vs Webster vs Griswold 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 expensive homes ($577k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Webster | Griswold | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
17,748Highest |
11,530 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Griswold 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest 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%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 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% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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 93% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$78,719±$11k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,177±$65 17% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,628 48% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Griswold 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.6 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #118 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster | Griswold School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School | Griswold High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.6Highest |
11.5 |
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.