Census-designated place · Massachusetts
North Scituate, Massachusetts
North Scituate, census-designated place, in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. North Scituate had 6,492 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±698). GEOID 2549165.
Residents, 2020-2024
6,492
±698 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,414
Median household income
$140,329
±$37,630 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$824,800
±$32,005 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,595
±$191 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is North Scituate and what county is it in?
North Scituate is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. It covers 3.8 square miles of land, 1,443 residents per square mile in 2020.
North Scituate is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
North Scituate lies entirely within Scituate, a town with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in North Scituate, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts North Scituate's population at 6,492 (±698). The 2020 Census counted 5,414 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; North Scituate is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | North Scituate | Plymouth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,492 ±698 | 535,075 | +1,448 |
| Households | 2,239 ±191 | 203,141 | +309 |
| Average household size | 2.89 ±0.22 | 2.58 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,343 ±180 | 218,096 | +367 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in North Scituate?
The median resident of North Scituate is 42.3 years old; 26.2% are under 18 and 15.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.5%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 4.6%.
| Measure | North Scituate | Plymouth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 ±2.9 | 43.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 26.2% ±3.9 pts | 20.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.5% ±3.4 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Male | 48.2% ±2.9 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.1% ±1.1 pts | 4.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.5% ±5.1 pts | 76.1% | −5.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±4.7 pts | 1.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.9% ±3.4 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.5% ±3.5 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.0% ±1.3 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 5.1% ±2.0 pts | 11.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 2.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 99.2% ±0.7 pts | 93.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 73.3% ±5.6 pts | 41.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 27.5% ±5.1 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.0% ±3.2 pts | 91.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in North Scituate earn?
Half of North Scituate's 2,239 households earn less than $140,329 a year (±$37,630), against $114,201 in Plymouth County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $133,747 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 2.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | North Scituate | Plymouth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $140,329 ±$37,630 | $114,201 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $201,240 ±$28,631 | $151,136 | – |
| Per capita income | $69,923 ±$8,849 | $57,650 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 2.9% ±1.8 pts | 7.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±2.5 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.1% ±4.5 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.3% ±1.6 pts | 95.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.2% ±2.5 pts | 92.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in North Scituate?
Owners occupy 88.9% of North Scituate's occupied homes and renters 11.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $824,800 by its owner (±$32,005). The median renter pays $1,595 a month including utilities, and 55.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | North Scituate | Plymouth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $824,800 ±$32,005 | $556,000 | +$98,814 |
| Median gross rent | $1,595 ±$191 | $1,747 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 55.2% ±19.7 pts | 45.4% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,593 ±$223 | $2,799 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 88.9% ±4.0 pts | 77.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 11.1% ±4.0 pts | 22.4% | – |
| Housing units | 2,343 ±180 | 218,096 | +367 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±15.7 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 88.9% ±3.5 pts | 69.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±1.0 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.0% ±4.0 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.8% ±4.6 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.8% ±1.0 pts | 6.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in North Scituate work and get to work?
62.5% of North Scituate's workers drive alone and 27.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 34.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.5%.
| Measure | North Scituate | Plymouth County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.8% ±5.0 pts | 66.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% ±2.4 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 62.5% ±9.7 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 0.3% ±0.6 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 6.5% ±4.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Walked | 2.0% ±2.5 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 27.9% ±8.3 pts | 16.2% | +14.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.7 min ±4.4 | 32.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in North Scituate?
1 census tract lies mostly in North Scituate, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 5051.02Plymouth County | 5,568 | $192,863 |
| Tract 5051.03Plymouth County | 2,956 | $132,761 |
| Tract 5051.04Plymouth County | 4,033 | $136,743 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in North Scituate) · Census block assignment files
How does North Scituate compare with other places in Massachusetts?
North Scituate ranks 109th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 238th | 460 |
| Residents per square mile | 130th | 461 |
| Median household income | 109th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 113th | 460 |
| Median home value | 67th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 205th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 312th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42nd | 459 |
| Median age | 322nd | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 83rd | 460 |
| Work from home | 72nd | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 76th | 459 |
North Scituate's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare North Scituate with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for North Scituate?
19 of the 57 figures for North Scituate on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for North Scituate are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.