Compare towns

Exeter vs Glocester 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

Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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.

MeasureExeterGlocesterSturbridge
People
Population
7,195Lowest
10,221Highest
9,960
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,250±$30kLowest
38% above U.S.
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$396,500±$28kLowest
19% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,193±$398Lowest
16% below U.S.
Glocester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,881
89% above U.S.
$5,248Lowest
68% above U.S.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.7Lowest
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 #14 of 38 in RI #12 of 38 in RI #89 of 282 in MA
School district Exeter-West Greenwich Foster-Glocester · Glocester Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town None in town Ponaganset High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
7.7Lowest
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.