Compare towns

Pascoag vs Sturbridge vs Exeter

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pascoag has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

MeasurePascoagSturbridgeExeter
People
Population
4,410Lowest
9,960Highest
7,195
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.1±3.7
about the U.S. average
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.7%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pascoag and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
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
$121,369±$34k
50% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$111,250±$30kLowest
38% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Pascoag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$365,000±$47kLowest
10% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,319±$444Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,193±$398Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
Pascoag and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,395Lowest
41% above U.S.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
$5,881
89% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±27.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
34% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
7.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1
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 — #89 of 282 in MA #14 of 38 in RI
School district — Sturbridge · Tantasqua Exeter-West Greenwich
High school in town — Tantasqua Regional Sr High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.7
—
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.