Compare towns

Williston vs Sturbridge vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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.

MeasureWillistonSturbridgeUpton
People
Population
10,144Highest
9,960
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
46.4±4.8
19% 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
20.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
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+
21%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Williston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% above U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% 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
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$425,800±$18kLowest
28% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton and Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT #89 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Sturbridge · Tantasqua Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.7Lowest
11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.