Compare towns
Scituate vs Webster vs Reading
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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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.
| Measure | Scituate | Webster | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,365 |
17,748Lowest |
25,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 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%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$809,000±$22k 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±$311 9% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% 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 | $8,807 47% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Scituate and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 31% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Scituate | Webster | Reading |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Bartlett High School | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.6 |
12.1Highest |
| 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.