Compare towns

Scituate vs Wellfleet vs Scituate

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 highest household income ($137k).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Scituate has the most affordable homes ($822k 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.

MeasureScituateWellfleetScituate
People
Population
19,365Highest
4,404Lowest
5,796
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+29.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3.1Lowest
18% above MA
58.4±4.1Highest
46% above MA
51.7±3.8
29% above MA
Wellfleet and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
14.4%±5.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.1%±4.8
MA: 19.4%
Scituate and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
35.3%±5.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
27.3%±5
MA: 17.9%
Wellfleet 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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
64.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.1%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Scituate 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±$16kHighest
32% above MA
$117,938±$27kLowest
13% above MA
$124,549±$27k
20% above MA
Scituate 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
$855,300±$70kHighest
52% above MA
$821,600±$82kLowest
46% 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±$597
11% below MA
$884±$721Lowest
50% 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
$8,345
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.7%±10.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
28.6%±23.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
46.4%±8
MA: 51.8%
Scituate 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%
9.2%Highest
MA: 10%
3.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
85.5%
MA: 62.5%
83%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 min
31% above MA
35 minLowest
19% above MA
42 minHighest
44% above MA
Work from home
28%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.7%±7.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
26.6%±4.7
MA: 18.6%
Scituate 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 — #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 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.