salaryRent is lower than in 89% of U.S. cities. That makes it a rare mix of above-average pay and below-average rent. A typical house costs about 6.1 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. Commutes are long, about 41.8 minutes each way. Most homes (83%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 64.7% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $39,000 a year. That is $19 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Massachusetts. It is number 2 of 123 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Scituate?
Share of households by yearly income. 50.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Scituate
| Size | Scituate | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $973 | $1,324 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,192 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Scituate overall?
Everyday prices in Massachusetts overall are 6% above the U.S. average (index 105.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Scituate, so the Massachusetts figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Scituate
Life in Scituate
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Scituate?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $4,726 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $821,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $82,160 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Scituate, MA?
Renting in Scituate costs a median of about $975 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Massachusetts median is $2,331.
How much do I need to make to live in Scituate?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $39,000 a year, or $19 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Scituate cheap or expensive?
Scituate is rated Cheap: rent takes 8.7% of the typical household income of $134,326. It ranks 2nd cheapest of 123 Massachusetts cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Scituate?
The median homeowner in Scituate pays $8,345 a year in property taxes, about 1.02% of the median home value.
Is Scituate more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Massachusetts are 6% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Scituate?
The median home value in Scituate is $821,600, about 6.1 times the typical yearly household income.
5,796 people live in Scituate. Numbers are typical (middle) values.