What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Scituate	Reading
People
Population	19,365Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Scituate and 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%	22.8%±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%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Scituate and Reading 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%	66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Scituate and Reading 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	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA	$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA
	Scituate and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
	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	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	3.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960 4 yrs older than MA	1960 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 31% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	28%±4Lowest 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	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Scituate	Reading
High school in town	Scituate High School	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.1Highest
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.