Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Voluntown 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).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Hampton | Voluntown | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
1,647Lowest |
2,604 |
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. |
48.3±1.7 24% 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% |
16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%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% |
3.4%±1.6 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±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25kLowest 26% 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. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above 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±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% 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. |
$4,955 59% 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%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3Lowest 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% |
7.3% 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% |
83.5% 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. |
1983 3 yrs newer than 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 19% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | — | #53 of 149 in CT | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hampton School District | Voluntown School District | Scituate |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.