Compare towns

Sutton vs Glocester vs Exeter 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

Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

MeasureSuttonGlocesterExeterSturbridge
People
Population
9,452
10,221Highest
7,195Lowest
9,960
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
50.8±4.3Highest
31% above U.S.
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
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
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$113,508±$7k
41% above U.S.
$111,250±$30kLowest
38% above U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% 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
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$396,500±$28kLowest
19% above U.S.
$509,200±$43k
53% above U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% 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
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,417±$627Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,317±$307
7% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
Glocester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$5,248Lowest
68% above U.S.
$5,881
89% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±24
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Sutton 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 #105 of 282 in MA #12 of 38 in RI #14 of 38 in RI #89 of 282 in MA
School district Sutton Foster-Glocester · Glocester Exeter-West Greenwich Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Sutton High School Ponaganset High School None in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
12.8Highest
—
7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.