Compare towns
Exeter vs Sturbridge vs Westminster
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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Sturbridge | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
9,960Highest |
8,374 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest 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±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$106,331±$22kLowest 32% 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 | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,973Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Westminster 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #112 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Oakmont Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.