Compare towns
Exeter vs Chaplin vs North Smithfield 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
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
North Smithfield has the most renters (22.1% 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 | Chaplin | North Smithfield | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
2,070Lowest |
12,708Highest |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Scituate and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 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+ | 46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 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 | $111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% 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 | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531Lowest 9% 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 | $5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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 | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 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 | — | #13 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | North Smithfield | Scituate |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | North Smitfield HS | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.8 |
| 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.