Norwell 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 $100k more for a 4BR in Norwell, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $100k for 5 MCAS percentile points inside the same tier.
Norwell 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 $4,600 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Norwell if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Norwell numbers →Choose Scituate if you want the lower price, or you want a train.
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.
SchoolsNorwell ahead on 3 of 10, 1 against
| Norwell | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 91st | 86th |
| Student growth | 54th | 52nd |
| Graduation rate | 97.4% | 96.1% |
| Niche district rank | 32nd of 236 | 45th of 236 |
| SchoolDigger rank | 108th of 361 | 49th of 361 |
| State accountability | Meeting or exceeding targets | Substantial progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $21,154 | $21,508 |
| Schools in the district | 3 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 8 | 5 |
What a home costsScituate ahead on 5 of 8, 1 against
| Norwell | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.2MT3 | $1.1MT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $870k | $800k |
| 2BR condo | $645k | $590k |
| 3BR home | $911k | $940k |
| 5+ BR home | $1.85M | $1.57M |
| 3BR rent | $3,287/mo | $3,737/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $323k | $284k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.5% a year | 6.7% a year |
What you pay the townScituate ahead on 2 of 4
| Norwell | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $12.83T3 | $9.83T1 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$15,400 | ≈$10,800 |
| Town spending per resident | $6,197 | $5,304 |
| Share of budget on schools | 50% | 49% |
Getting to workEven, 1 each of 3
| Norwell | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 49 minT3 | 56 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~54 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 18 mi | 19 mi |
Before kindergartenNorwell ahead on 2 of 4
| Norwell | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 14 | 15 |
| Child care places | 1,026 | 457 |
| Centers vs family programs | 12 centers | 7 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 292 | 64 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Norwell | Scituate | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,351 | 19,063 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Family amenities | 2/10 | 7/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 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 FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
