Compare towns
Scituate vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Scituate | Exeter | Plainfield | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,517 |
7,195 |
15,141Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,315±$23k 39% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% 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 | $1,489±$251 5% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,265 69% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Exeter-West Greenwich | Plainfield School District | Foster |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.