Compare towns
Exeter vs Scituate vs Sterling
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 most people working from home (17.2%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Scituate | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195 |
10,517Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| 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. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling 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% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$112,315±$23kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% 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. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below 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±$307Lowest 7% 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. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Scituate 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Scituate | Sterling School District |
| High school 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 |
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.