Compare towns
Maynard vs Reading vs Reading vs Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Scituate has the most homeowners (87.8%).
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 | Maynard | Reading | Reading | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
25,612Highest |
25,612Highest |
19,365 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
| Scituate and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Scituate and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
| Scituate and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,807 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Scituate and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | — | Reading | Scituate |
| High school in town | Maynard High | — | Reading Memorial High | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.