Compare towns
Webster vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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 | Webster | Sturbridge | Upton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
9,960 |
8,189Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% 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 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
| Webster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
7.7Lowest |
11.2 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.