Compare towns
Scituate vs Danvers vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scituate has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Foster has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Danvers | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,517 |
28,098Highest |
4,523Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Foster and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Scituate and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,315±$23kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $449,300±$26k 35% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,489±$251Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,265Lowest 69% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.6%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers and Foster 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 | #17 of 38 in RI | #91 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Scituate | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Foster |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.