Compare towns
Exeter vs Halifax 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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Halifax | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
7,748 |
10,517Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Halifax 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Halifax 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% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
| Halifax 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±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51k 45% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
| Halifax 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. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,265Lowest 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Halifax | Scituate |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.