Compare towns
Upton vs Windham vs Buxton 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Windham | Buxton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
19,188Highest |
8,512 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% 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% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Buxton 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. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21kLowest 24% 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,613±$266Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Buxton and Windham 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #104 of 133 in ME | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 14 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Windham High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.1Highest |
— | 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.