Compare towns

Scituate vs Stoneham vs 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).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Scituate has the highest household income ($137k).

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.

MeasureScituateStonehamScituate
People
Population
5,796Lowest
23,355Highest
19,365
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.1%
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±3.8Highest
29% above MA
42.2±2.2Lowest
6% above MA
47.1±3.1
18% above MA
Scituate 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%
20.8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
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%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.2%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Scituate and Scituate 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%
55.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
66.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Stoneham 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±$27k
20% above MA
$113,964±$10kLowest
10% above MA
$136,732±$16kHighest
32% above MA
Scituate and 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
$671,900±$26kLowest
20% above MA
$847,600±$25kHighest
51% above MA
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
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
$1,609±$311
9% below MA
Stoneham and Scituate 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
$6,523Lowest
9% above MA
$8,807Highest
47% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.4%±8
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.7%±10.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Scituate 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%
5.4%Highest
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83%
MA: 62.5%
71%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1964Highest
same as MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
42 minHighest
44% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
38 min
31% above MA
Work from home
26.6%±4.7
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Scituate 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 #117 of 282 in MA #43 of 282 in MA
School district — Stoneham Scituate
High school in town — Stoneham High Scituate High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
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.