What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scituate has the most expensive homes ($449k median).

Scotland has the most affordable homes ($294k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Scituate	Scotland
People
Population	10,517Highest	1,599Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.9±4Highest 28% above U.S.	44.7±5Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Scituate and Scotland 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%	16.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Scotland and Scituate 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%	18.6%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Scituate and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Scotland and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,315±$23kHighest 39% above U.S.	$99,881±$12kLowest 24% above U.S.
	Scituate and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$449,300±$26kHighest 35% above U.S.	$294,100±$20kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,489±$251Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,188±$468Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Scituate and Scotland 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.	$6,175Highest 98% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.6%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Scituate and Scotland 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Scituate and Scotland 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	—
School district	Scituate	Scotland School District
High school in town	Scituate High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.