Cohasset vs Scituate
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $500k more for a 4BR in Cohasset, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $500k for 9 MCAS percentile points inside the same tier.
Cohasset is about 7 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Scituate works out roughly $6,500 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Cohasset if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Cohasset numbers →Choose Scituate if you want the lower price.
All Scituate numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsCohasset ahead on 4 of 10, 1 against
| Cohasset | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 95th | 86th |
| Student growth | 58th | 52nd |
| Graduation rate | 95.2% | 96.1% |
| Niche district rank | 47th of 236 | 45th of 236 |
| SchoolDigger rank | 19th of 361 | 49th of 361 |
| State accountability | Meeting or exceeding targets | Substantial progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $24,119 | $21,508 |
| Schools in the district | 3 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 7 | 5 |
What a home costsScituate ahead on 5 of 6
| Cohasset | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.6MT4 | $1.1MT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $1.1M | $800k |
| 2BR condo | $815k | $590k |
| 3BR rent | $3,350/mo | $3,463/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $423k | $291k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.1% a year | 6.7% a year |
What you pay the townScituate ahead on 1 of 4
| Cohasset | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $12.00T2 | $11.50T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$19,200 | ≈$12,700 |
| Town spending per resident | $6,616 | $5,304 |
| Share of budget on schools | 46% | 49% |
Getting to workCohasset ahead on 7 of 8
| Cohasset | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 48 minT3 | 55 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~47 min to terminal | Commuter rail · ~54 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 14 mi | 18 mi |
| Rail to Downtown | 47 min | 54 min |
| Rail to Back Bay | 53 min | 59 min |
| Rail to Kendall Sq | 57 min | 64 min |
| Rail to the Seaport | 51 min | 58 min |
| Rail to Longwood | 74 min | 81 min |
Before kindergartenScituate ahead on 3 of 4
| Cohasset | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 7 | 15 |
| Child care places | 306 | 457 |
| Centers vs family programs | 5 centers | 7 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 33 | 64 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Cohasset | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,381 | 19,063 |
| Energy | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Compact center | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Family amenities | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Culture | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Gathering places | 8/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
