Compare towns

Coventry vs Exeter vs Scituate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Coventry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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.

MeasureCoventryExeterScituate
People
Population
35,907Highest
7,195Lowest
10,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
RI: +4.3%
+0.5%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+0.5%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
44±1.1
8% above RI
37.7±5.9Lowest
7% below RI
49.9±4Highest
23% above RI
Kids under 18
18.2%±1.8
RI: 18.8%
19.7%±4.7Highest
RI: 18.8%
14.9%±3.3Lowest
RI: 18.8%
Exeter and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±1.6
RI: 18.7%
18.2%±3.8Lowest
RI: 18.7%
25.2%±4.3Highest
RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.2%Lowest
RI: 37.7%
46.1%Highest
RI: 37.7%
34.7%
RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.2
RI: 8.3%
11.1%±6.3Highest
RI: 8.3%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
RI: 8.3%
Exeter and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,946±$8kLowest
17% above RI
$111,250±$30k
27% above RI
$112,315±$23kHighest
28% above RI
Scituate and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,200±$11kLowest
12% below RI
$509,200±$43kHighest
26% above RI
$449,300±$26k
11% above RI
Exeter and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,206±$155Lowest
10% below RI
$1,317±$307
about the RI average
$1,489±$251Highest
11% above RI
Scituate and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,099Lowest
4% above RI
$5,881Highest
20% above RI
$5,265
7% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±11.1Lowest
RI: 48%
91%±26.7Highest
RI: 48%
59.6%±25.9
RI: 48%
Exeter and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
RI: 11.2%
12.8%Highest
RI: 11.2%
5%Lowest
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
RI: 63.6%
80.3%Lowest
RI: 63.6%
87.3%Highest
RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
11 yrs newer than RI
1987Highest
25 yrs newer than RI
1966Lowest
4 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the RI average
22 minLowest
12% below RI
31 minHighest
20% above RI
Work from home
11.3%±2.2Lowest
RI: 13%
17.2%±6.1Highest
RI: 13%
13.3%±5.1
RI: 13%
Exeter and Scituate 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 #24 of 38 in RI #14 of 38 in RI #17 of 38 in RI
School district Coventry Exeter-West Greenwich Scituate
High school in town Coventry High School None in town Scituate High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
—
10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

RI 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.