Compare towns
Brookfield vs Exeter 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
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%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460Lowest |
7,195 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
| 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% |
+6.1% 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. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 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+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%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%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$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 | $341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% 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. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%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% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 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 | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #14 of 38 in RI | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None 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.