Compare towns
Exeter vs Sutton vs Scituate vs Narragansett
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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Scituate has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Narragansett has the most expensive homes ($744k 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 | Sutton | Scituate | Narragansett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
9,452 |
10,517 |
14,494Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.3±6.3 19% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Narragansett 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±2.7Lowest 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Narragansett and Scituate 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
21%±5.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Narragansett 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 38% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$95,721±$7kLowest 19% 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. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$449,300±$26kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$743,500±$60kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,712±$234Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Narragansett and Scituate 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
$4,695Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Narragansett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr 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 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Narragansett 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #17 of 38 in RI | #6 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Sutton | Scituate | Narragansett |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Scituate High School | Narragansett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.8 |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.