Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Exeter vs Charlton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
7,195Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Charlton 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. |
$111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2Lowest 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 | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Exeter-West Greenwich | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 9.7Highest |
| 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.