Compare towns
Scituate vs Dover vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Newbury has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Dover | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,796Lowest |
5,930 |
6,777Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±3.8 29% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
55.1±4.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Newbury and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Scituate 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.5%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.7% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Newbury 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$174,868±$59k 68% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,600±$82kLowest 46% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$840,600±$40k 50% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $884±$721Lowest 50% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,806±$1k about the MA average |
| Dover and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,345 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,661Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Newbury and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 44% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.6%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.5%±6Lowest 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #137 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Triton |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Triton Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| 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.