Compare towns
Upton vs Windsor Locks vs Lancaster 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Windsor Locks | Lancaster | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
12,579Highest |
8,606 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Lancaster 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Windsor Locks School District | Nashoba | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
8.9 |
— | 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.