Compare towns
Exeter vs Scituate vs Windsor Locks vs North Smithfield
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 expensive homes ($509k median).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | North Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
10,517 |
12,579 |
12,708Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Scituate and North Smithfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and North Smithfield 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,866±$12k 35% 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$457,200±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and North Smithfield 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. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,282±$531Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Scituate and Windsor Locks 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,219 67% 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% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #13 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Scituate | Windsor Locks School District | North Smithfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Scituate High School | Windsor Locks High School | North Smitfield HS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
8.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.