Compare towns
Windham vs Upton vs Sturbridge vs Chester
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 44.2).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Windham | Upton | Sturbridge | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
8,189 |
9,960Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below 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 | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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 | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Windham 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 | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | Blackstone Valley | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
8.7 |
| 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.