Compare towns
Walpole vs Sturbridge vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Walpole | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Walpole and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 15% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.