Compare towns
Scituate vs Lancaster vs Cohasset
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 47.1).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Cohasset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Cohasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,365Highest |
8,606 |
8,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
43.9±4.4 10% above MA |
| Scituate and Cohasset 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cohasset and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 66.8% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Scituate and Cohasset 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA |
| Cohasset and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $847,600±$25k 51% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
| Cohasset and Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±15.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 31% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
37 min 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #41 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Scituate | Nashoba | Cohasset |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | None in town | Cohasset High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.