Compare towns
Brookfield vs Exeter vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Brookfield | Exeter | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
7,195 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Exeter 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #14 of 38 in RI | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.7 |
| 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.