Scituate at a Glance:
The town of Scituate is located in Providence County, Rhode Island. Scituate was first settled in 1710 by emigrants from Scituate, Massachusetts. The original spelling of the town's name was "Satuit", a native Indian word meaning "cold brook" or "cold river." It was part of Providence until 1731.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.8 square miles, of which 6.1 square miles is water. The Scituate Reservoir is the largest freshwater body of water in the state of Rhode Island. It has an aggregate capacity of 39 billion U.S. gallons and a surface area of 5.3 square miles. It and its six tributary reservoirs—which make up a total surface area of 7.2 square miles—supply drinking water to more than 60 percent of the state population. The surrounding drainage basin that provides water to the reservoir system covers an area of about 94 square miles, which includes most of the town of Scituate and parts of Foster, Glocester, Johnston, and Cranston. The Scituate Reservoir is operated by Providence Water Supply Board.
Scituate's governmental structure is composed of a seven-member Town Council.
Housing Facts: 2010
| Typical monthly housing payment* for a $240,000 house |
$2,151 |
| Household income required to afford a $240,000 house |
$86,038 |
| Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment |
$1,165 |
| Household income required for that rent to be affordable |
$46,600 |
| Average private-sector wage for jobs in Scituate |
$26,052 |
| Foreclosures in Scituate |
|
| Actual number of foreclosures |
11 |
| Total number of mortgaged housing units |
2,360 |
| Foreclosures as a percentage of mortgaged stock |
0.50% |
| Housing Units in Scituate |
|
| Number of year-round housing units |
3,882 |
| Housing units that quality as affordable |
39 |
| Affordable housing units reserved for the elderly |
24 |
| Affordable housing units reserved for families |
0 |
| Affordable housing units reserved for persons with special needs |
15 |
| Homes funded through Building Homes Rhode Island |
0 |
| How much housing is needed? |
|
| Additional housing units necessary to meet the 10% threshold established by the State's Low and Moderate Income Housing Act of 2004 |
349 |
