Compare towns
Scituate vs Needham vs Holliston
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Holliston has the most affordable homes ($650k 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.
| Measure | Scituate | Needham | Holliston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,365 |
32,459Highest |
15,094Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.2±1.9 13% above MA |
| Scituate and Holliston 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Holliston 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
65.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$159,817±$9k 54% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $847,600±$25k 51% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$650,300±$20kLowest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,821±$225 3% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,807Lowest 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,397 57% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Holliston 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% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 31% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 28%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.1%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Holliston 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #38 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Scituate | — | Holliston |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | — | Holliston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| 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.