Compare towns
Exeter vs Bristol 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
Exeter has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Bristol | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
22,220Highest |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest RI: +4.3% |
-2%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Highest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
43±2.2 6% above RI |
49.9±4Highest 23% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8% |
14.9%±3.3 RI: 18.8% |
| Exeter and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.9%±2 RI: 18.7% |
25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Scituate and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% RI: 37.7% |
47.6%Highest RI: 37.7% |
34.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3 RI: 8.3% |
18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Bristol and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30k 27% above RI |
$97,764±$8kLowest 11% 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 | $509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
$485,000±$25k 20% above RI |
$449,300±$26kLowest 11% above RI |
| Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest about the RI average |
$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI |
$1,489±$251 11% above RI |
| Bristol and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881Highest 20% above RI |
$5,393 10% above RI |
$5,265Lowest 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
37.9%±8.1Lowest 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 | 12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
6.5% RI: 11.2% |
5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% RI: 63.6% |
66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
87.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI |
1966 4 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 12% below RI |
25 min about the RI average |
31 minHighest 20% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
11.2%±2.7Lowest 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #20 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Bristol Warren | Scituate |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Hope High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
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.