Compare towns
Scituate vs Dedham vs Scituate vs Reading
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 most homeowners (87.8%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Dedham | Scituate | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,365 |
25,237 |
5,796Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.1 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
51.7±3.8Highest 29% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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 | 22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.7% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$124,549±$27kLowest 20% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$821,600±$82k 46% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% 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 | $1,609±$311 9% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$884±$721Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,807 47% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,345 39% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 31% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.6%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Scituate | Dedham | — | Reading |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Dedham High | — | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.