Compare towns
North Scituate vs Scituate vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k 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 | North Scituate | Scituate | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,492Lowest |
19,365Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.9Lowest 6% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
| Scituate and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.2%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| North Scituate and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and North Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,329±$38kHighest 35% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| North Scituate and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,800±$32k 47% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
| Scituate and North Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,595±$191Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,609±$311 9% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
| Hamilton and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,601Lowest 44% above MA |
$8,807 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
| North Scituate and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.9%±7.9 MA: 18.6% |
28%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Scituate and North 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 | — | #43 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Scituate | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | — | Scituate High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.