Compare towns

Exeter vs Hampton 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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Scituate has the highest household income ($112k).

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.

MeasureExeterHamptonScituate
People
Population
7,195
1,647Lowest
10,517Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.7±5.9Lowest
3% below U.S.
51.5±5.3Highest
32% above U.S.
49.9±4
28% above U.S.
Hampton and Scituate 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%
19.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton and Scituate 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%
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Scituate 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.
$109,167±$19kLowest
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.
$295,800±$27kLowest
11% below U.S.
$449,300±$26k
35% above U.S.
Exeter and Scituate 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.
$1,285±$288Lowest
9% below U.S.
$1,489±$251Highest
5% above U.S.
Scituate and Exeter 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.
$4,364Lowest
40% above U.S.
$5,265
69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
91%±26.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±51.5Lowest
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%
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
15% below U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton 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 — #17 of 38 in RI
School district Exeter-West Greenwich Hampton School District 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.