Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Scituate vs Sutton
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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Scituate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Hampton | Scituate | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
1,647Lowest |
10,517Highest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest 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. |
44.3±2.5 14% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 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% |
18.8%±3.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest 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% |
3.9%±1.8 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±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Exeter 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±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below 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 | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% 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% |
89.7% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Hampton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hampton School District | Scituate | Sutton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Scituate High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.