Compare towns
Exeter vs Mendon vs Scituate vs Foster
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Foster has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
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 | Mendon | Scituate | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195 |
6,325 |
10,517Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Foster 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Foster 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% |
46.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mendon 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. |
$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Foster 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. |
$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Foster 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. |
$7,213Highest 131% above U.S. |
$5,265Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Mendon 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #17 of 38 in RI | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Mendon-Upton | Scituate | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Scituate High School | None in town |
| 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.