Compare towns
Worcester vs Sturbridge vs Upton vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 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 | Worcester | Sturbridge | Upton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 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+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% 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 | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Sturbridge and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 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 | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.