Compare towns
Exeter vs Harvard 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).
Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Harvard | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
6,927Lowest |
10,517Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Exeter 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% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest 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±$30kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Harvard 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,265Lowest 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Harvard 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 38 in RI | #12 of 282 in MA | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Harvard | Scituate |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.