Compare towns
Scituate vs Acton vs North Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
North Scituate has the most kids (26.2% under 18).
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 | Scituate | Acton | North Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,796Lowest |
24,155Highest |
6,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±3.8Highest 29% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
42.3±2.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.2%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| North Scituate and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
73.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Scituate and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,549±$27kLowest 20% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$140,329±$38k 35% above MA |
| Acton and North Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,600±$82k 46% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$824,800±$32kHighest 47% above MA |
| North Scituate and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $884±$721Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,595±$191 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,345Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,601 44% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
77.8%±24.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Scituate and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 44% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.9%±7.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.