Compare towns
Windham vs Upton vs Sturbridge vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Windham | Upton | Sturbridge | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,960 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% 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 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 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+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% 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 | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.2 |
7.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.