Compare towns
Upton vs Worcester vs Calais 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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Worcester | Calais | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
831Lowest |
1,713 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Calais 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais 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% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Calais 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Calais 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | — | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | — | 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.