What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scituate has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

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	Wellfleet
People
Population	19,365Highest	4,404Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3.1Lowest 18% above MA	58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA
Kids under 18	22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	14.4%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	64.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Scituate and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,732±$16kHighest 32% above MA	$117,938±$27kLowest 13% above MA
	Scituate and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$847,600±$25kLowest 51% above MA	$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA
	Wellfleet and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,609±$311Highest 9% below MA	$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA
	Scituate and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,807Highest 47% above MA	$4,862Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%	28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Scituate and Wellfleet 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%	9.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.5%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	35 minLowest 19% above MA
Work from home	28%±4Highest MA: 18.6%	20.7%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Scituate and Wellfleet 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	—
School district	Scituate	Wellfleet
High school in town	Scituate High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
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.