What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Longmeadow has the most affordable homes ($454k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Scituate	Longmeadow
People
Population	19,365Highest	15,696Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA	44.6±1.7Lowest 12% above MA
	Scituate and Longmeadow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.8%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Longmeadow and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Longmeadow 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.9%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Longmeadow 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±$16kLowest 32% above MA	$149,601±$24kHighest 44% above MA
	Longmeadow 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±$25kHighest 51% above MA	$454,100±$20kLowest 19% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA	$1,682±$423Highest 5% below MA
	Longmeadow and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,807Lowest 47% above MA	$9,236Highest 54% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	58%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Longmeadow 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%	4.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 31% above MA	25 minLowest 15% below MA
Work from home	28%±4Highest MA: 18.6%	24.7%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Scituate and Longmeadow 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	#51 of 282 in MA
School district	Scituate	Longmeadow
High school in town	Scituate High School	Longmeadow High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.