Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Exeter vs Sutton 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
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($418k 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 | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
16,151Highest |
9,452 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8 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±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$131,568±$34k 63% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$418,400±$29kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,410Lowest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Exeter High School | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.1 |
12.6Highest |
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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.