Compare towns
Exeter 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).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
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. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Sutton 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% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Sutton 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% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest 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% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$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. |
$449,300±$26kLowest 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. |
$1,489±$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. |
$5,265Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% 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% |
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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than 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. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Scituate | Sutton |
| High school 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 |
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.