Compare towns
Northborough vs Rowley vs Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Scituate has the most expensive 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 | Northborough | Rowley | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,750 |
6,251Lowest |
19,365Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3Lowest 13% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
47.1±3.1 18% above MA |
| Rowley and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Scituate and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.5% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Northborough and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
| Northborough and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $620,000±$24kLowest 10% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,609±$311 9% below MA |
| Northborough and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,983Lowest 33% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$8,807Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±16.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Scituate and Northborough 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 | #35 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Triton | Scituate |
| High school in town | Algonquin Regional High | None in town | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 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.