Compare towns

Chaplin vs Exeter vs Scituate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

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.

MeasureChaplinExeterScituate
People
Population
2,070Lowest
7,195
10,517Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
49.9±4Highest
28% above U.S.
Scituate and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Scituate and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,846±$14kLowest
21% above U.S.
$111,250±$30k
38% above U.S.
$112,315±$23kHighest
39% above U.S.
Scituate and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$509,200±$43kHighest
53% above U.S.
$449,300±$26k
35% above U.S.
Exeter and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275
4% above U.S.
$1,317±$307Lowest
7% below U.S.
$1,489±$251Highest
5% above U.S.
Scituate and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,881Highest
89% above U.S.
$5,265
69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.6%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Chaplin 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 — #14 of 38 in RI #17 of 38 in RI
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Exeter-West Greenwich Scituate
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town Scituate High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
—
10.8Highest
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.