Compare towns
Exeter vs Derby vs Scituate vs North Smithfield
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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Scituate has the most homeowners (87.3%).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Derby | Scituate | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
12,487 |
10,517 |
12,708Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
46.4±3.1 19% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 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% |
21.1%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Derby 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% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Derby 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. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,315±$23kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12k 35% 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. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% 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. |
$1,452±$95 about the U.S. average |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Scituate and Derby 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. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.9%±12.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | #17 of 38 in RI | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Derby School District | Scituate | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Scituate High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
10.8 |
12.1Highest |
| 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.