What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most homeowners (86.3%).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sturbridge	Exeter
People
Population	9,960Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest 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	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% 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	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter 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	#89 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	59 photos →

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.