Compare towns
Exeter vs Millis 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
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
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 | Exeter | Millis | Sturbridge | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
8,888 |
9,960Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Millis 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. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Millis and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Millis and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Millis 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #63 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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.