Compare towns
Exeter vs Georgetown 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).
Georgetown has the highest household income ($152k).
North Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Georgetown | North Smithfield | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
8,474 |
12,708Highest |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% 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. |
42.8±3.5 10% 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%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Exeter 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% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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. |
$151,595±$23kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$108,866±$12kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$7,272Highest 133% above U.S. |
$5,219Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84% 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. |
1974 6 yrs 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. |
34 minHighest 27% 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% |
20.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Georgetown 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 | #140 of 282 in MA | #13 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Georgetown | North Smithfield | Scituate |
| High school in town | None in town | Georgetown High School | North Smitfield HS | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
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.