Compare towns

Coventry vs Exeter vs Scituate vs West Warwick

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
West Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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.

MeasureCoventryExeterScituateWest Warwick
People
Population
35,907Highest
7,195Lowest
10,517
31,173
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
RI: +4.3%
+0.5%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+0.5%Lowest
RI: +4.3%
+6.2%Highest
RI: +4.3%
Median age
44±1.1
8% above RI
37.7±5.9Lowest
7% below RI
49.9±4Highest
23% above RI
42.8±1.5
5% 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%
15.7%±2.3
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%
20%±2.1
RI: 18.7%
Scituate and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.2%
RI: 37.7%
46.1%Highest
RI: 37.7%
34.7%
RI: 37.7%
26.4%Lowest
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%
5.7%±1.3
RI: 8.3%
Exeter and West Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,946±$8k
17% above RI
$111,250±$30k
27% above RI
$112,315±$23kHighest
28% above RI
$77,608±$7kLowest
12% below 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±$11k
12% below RI
$509,200±$43kHighest
26% above RI
$449,300±$26k
11% above RI
$330,800±$12kLowest
18% below 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
$1,303±$74
about the RI average
Scituate and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,099
4% above RI
$5,881Highest
20% above RI
$5,265
7% above RI
$4,962Lowest
about the RI average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±11.1
RI: 48%
91%±26.7Highest
RI: 48%
59.6%±25.9
RI: 48%
43.5%±7.8Lowest
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%
9.6%
RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
RI: 63.6%
80.3%
RI: 63.6%
87.3%Highest
RI: 63.6%
57%Lowest
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
1968
6 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
25 min
about the RI average
Work from home
11.3%±2.2
RI: 13%
17.2%±6.1Highest
RI: 13%
13.3%±5.1
RI: 13%
7.2%±2Lowest
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 #33 of 38 in RI
School district Coventry Exeter-West Greenwich Scituate West Warwick
High school in town Coventry High School None in town Scituate High School West Warwick High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3
—
10.8Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.