Compare towns
Exeter vs Smithfield vs Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Smithfield | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
22,233Highest |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
49.9±4Highest 23% above RI |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
16.9%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest RI: 18.8% |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
25.2%±4.3Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Scituate and 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 RI: 37.7% |
40% RI: 37.7% |
34.7%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3 RI: 8.3% |
16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Smithfield and Exeter 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 27% above RI |
$102,077±$8kLowest 16% above RI |
$112,315±$23kHighest 28% above RI |
| 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 26% above RI |
$446,400±$12kLowest 10% above RI |
$449,300±$26k 11% above RI |
| 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±$307 about the RI average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,489±$251Highest 11% above RI |
| 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 20% above RI |
$5,207Lowest 6% above RI |
$5,265 7% above RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
57.1%±17.7Lowest RI: 48% |
59.6%±25.9 RI: 48% |
| 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 RI: 11.2% |
6.2% RI: 11.2% |
5%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
81.6% RI: 63.6% |
87.3%Highest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1976 14 yrs newer than RI |
1966Lowest 4 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 12% below RI |
25 min 4% below RI |
31 minHighest 20% above RI |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest RI: 13% |
| Exeter and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Smithfield | Scituate |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI 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.