Compare towns
Epping vs Exeter vs Sturbridge vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Epping | Exeter | Sturbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,960 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Sutton 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Epping School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Exeter High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
12.1 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.