Compare towns
Upton vs Williston vs Douglas 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Williston | Douglas | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
10,144Highest |
9,207 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Douglas 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Douglas 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Williston and Douglas 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Williston 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #177 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Douglas | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Douglas High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
7.7 |
| 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.