Compare towns
Cohasset vs Dover vs Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cohasset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Scituate has the most affordable homes ($848k 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 | Cohasset | Dover | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,427 |
5,930Lowest |
19,365Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
| Scituate and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Cohasset and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.7% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $199,306±$53k 92% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$136,732±$16kLowest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,318,900±$165k 135% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$847,600±$25kLowest 51% above MA |
| Dover and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,755±$399 56% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
| Dover and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,807Lowest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±15.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Scituate and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 28% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #41 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Cohasset | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Scituate |
| High school in town | Cohasset High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.8 |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.