Compare towns
Scituate vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
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 | Lancaster | North Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,796Lowest |
8,606Highest |
6,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±3.8Highest 29% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
42.3±2.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Scituate and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.2%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| North Scituate 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
73.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| North Scituate and Scituate 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$140,329±$38kHighest 35% above MA |
| North Scituate and Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,595±$191 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,345 39% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$8,601Highest 44% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
77.8%±24.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Scituate and Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 44% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.9%±7.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.