What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k median).

North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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	North Reading
People
Population	19,365Highest	15,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA
	Scituate and North Reading 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%	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading 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	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA
	North Reading 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	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
	North Reading 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	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 31% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	28%±4Highest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Scituate and North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Scituate	North Reading
High school in town	Scituate High School	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.