Compare towns

Scituate vs Stoneham vs Duxbury

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 most people working from home (28%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Duxbury has the highest household income ($177k).

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.

MeasureScituateStonehamDuxbury
People
Population
19,365
23,355Highest
16,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3.1
18% above MA
42.2±2.2Lowest
6% above MA
47.6±2.3Highest
19% above MA
Duxbury and Scituate 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%
20.8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.5%±2.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Duxbury and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.5%±3.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Duxbury 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%
MA: 47.3%
55.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
70.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Stoneham 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±$16k
32% above MA
$113,964±$10kLowest
10% above MA
$176,583±$29kHighest
70% above MA
Duxbury 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
$671,900±$26kLowest
20% above MA
$874,600±$35kHighest
56% above MA
Duxbury and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,609±$311
9% below MA
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
$1,591±$2kLowest
10% below MA
Stoneham and Scituate 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
$6,523Lowest
9% above MA
$9,518Highest
59% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.7%±10.3
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.8%±31.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Duxbury 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%
5.4%Highest
MA: 10%
5.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
MA: 62.5%
71%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1964
same as MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
31% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
33 min
13% above MA
Work from home
28%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
25.1%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
Scituate and Duxbury 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 #117 of 282 in MA #32 of 282 in MA
School district Scituate Stoneham Duxbury
High school in town Scituate High School Stoneham High Duxbury High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Highest
10.7
9.9Lowest
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.