Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Exeter vs Millis vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
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 | Sturbridge | Exeter | Millis | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
16,151Highest |
8,888 |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Millis 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Millis and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,696±$279 20% above U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$5,092Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 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 | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Millis | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Exeter High School | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.