Compare towns

Glocester vs Exeter 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

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

MeasureGlocesterExeterSturbridge
People
Population
10,221Highest
7,195Lowest
9,960
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below 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
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7Lowest
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+
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8Lowest
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+
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
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
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
$111,250±$30kLowest
38% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,500±$28kLowest
19% above U.S.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$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
$5,248Lowest
68% above U.S.
$5,881
89% above U.S.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
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
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1
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 #12 of 38 in RI #14 of 38 in RI #89 of 282 in MA
School district Foster-Glocester · Glocester Exeter-West Greenwich Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Ponaganset High School None in town 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.