Compare towns
Exeter vs Wilbraham vs Putnam vs Scituate
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%).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Wilbraham | Putnam | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
14,572Highest |
9,292 |
10,517 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.3±2.7 14% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Exeter 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% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Wilbraham 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% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham 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. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$449,300±$26k 35% above 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±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% 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 | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,265 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±25.9 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% 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. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #17 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Hampden-Wilbraham | Putnam School District | Scituate |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | Putnam High School | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.