First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Plymouth County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Scituate, Massachusetts
Scituate is a coastal town in Plymouth County on Massachusetts Bay, incorporated on October 5, 1636. Its name comes from "satuit," understood by early English settlers to mean cold brook, and its harbor, five public beaches and the historic Scituate Light have long defined the town.
Scituate at a glance
- $9.83Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $10,191Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 40-50 minDrive to Boston
- PlymouthCounty
Scituate's villages and zip codes
Scituate uses ZIP codes 02066 (Scituate/Greenbush/Egypt), 02060 (North Scituate) and 02047 (Humarock).
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Scituate center | 02066 | The village around Scituate Harbor and Town Hall on the Chief Justice Cushing Highway. |
| North Scituate | 02060 | A village in the northern part of town near the North Scituate commuter rail area. |
| Humarock | 02047 | A coastal neighborhood on a peninsula separated from the rest of Scituate by the North River, reached by road through Marshfield. |
| Greenbush | 02066 | A village that gives its name to the MBTA Greenbush Line's terminus station. |
| Egypt | 02066 | A neighborhood near Egypt Beach on the town's oceanfront. |
Things to do in Scituate, MA
Start with Scituate Light (Old Scituate Light) and Scituate Harbor, then 3 more below.
Scituate Light (Old Scituate Light)
An 1810 lighthouse at the entrance to Scituate Harbor, notable for an 1814 incident when the keeper's daughters, Abigail and Rebecca Bates, used a fife and drum to bluff off a British raiding party.
Scituate Harbor, Scituate, MA
Scituate Harbor
A working harbor with docks, a seawall walk, and shops and restaurants along Front Street.
Front Street, Scituate, MA
Lawson Tower
A wooden water tower built in 1902 in the style of a medieval castle turret, a local landmark on First Parish Road.
First Parish Road, Scituate, MA
Minot's Ledge Lighthouse views
An offshore lighthouse nicknamed the "I Love You Lighthouse" for its 1-4-3 flash pattern, visible from Scituate's Minot Beach area.
Minot, Scituate, MA
Scituate's public beaches
Five public beaches, including Minot, Sand Hills, Egypt, Peggotty and Humarock, along the town's Massachusetts Bay shoreline.
Various, Scituate, MA
A little history
Scituate was incorporated on October 5, 1636, one of the earlier towns settled within Plymouth Colony, and takes its name from the Wampanoag word "satuit," meaning cold brook.
During the War of 1812, lighthouse keeper's daughters Abigail and Rebecca Bates are credited with deterring a British raiding party at Scituate Light by playing a fife and drum to simulate approaching militia.
Scituate Light was built in 1810 and is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Massachusetts coast.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Scituate
Scituate's recreation is built around its Massachusetts Bay shoreline, harbor, and the North and South Rivers, with five public beaches spread along the coast.
- Minot BeachAn oceanfront beach with views toward Minot's Ledge Lighthouse.
- Sand Hills BeachA public beach along Scituate's oceanfront.
- Peggotty BeachA public beach near the mouth of the North River.
- Humarock BeachAn oceanfront beach on the Humarock peninsula.
- North and South River accessPaddling and fishing access on the rivers forming Scituate's southern edge near Humarock.
Where to eat in Scituate: restaurants and coffee
1 places in Scituate to try, including mixed dining. No one paid to be listed.
Scituate Harbor dining
Mixed dining
Front Street and the harbor area have a cluster of independent restaurants and seafood spots overlooking the docks.
Front Street, Scituate, MA
Walkability and getting around Scituate
Scituate Harbor village has sidewalks connecting shops, restaurants and the waterfront, but most of the town's beach neighborhoods and inland areas are built around driving.
Drive times
- Boston, about 25 miles40-50 min
- Logan International Airport, about 28 miles40-55 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The MBTA Greenbush Line commuter rail, with a station in North Scituate and its terminus in Greenbush, runs to Boston's South Station in roughly 45 minutes; Route 3A and Route 123 are the town's main roads.
Scituate property taxes
Scituate's FY2026 residential tax rate is $9.83 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $983 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $10,191, on an average assessed value of $1,036,705.
Scituate's FY2026 tax rates
$9.83per $1,000, residential
- Residential$9.83 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$1,036,705
- Average single-family tax bill$10,191
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $12.62 |
| FY2023 | $11.13 |
| FY2024 | $10.36 |
| FY2025 | $9.99 |
| FY2026 | $9.83 |
Look up a Scituate property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value: 781-545-8712
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Scituate
What we check on a Scituate purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, coastal flood zones, smoke & co certificate.
Check the flood zone first
Scituate's Massachusetts Bay shoreline, harbor, and the North and South Rivers near Humarock put oceanfront and low-lying riverside parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones; Humarock's peninsula location makes coastal flood risk a particular consideration there. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for ScituateSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Scituate Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 781-545-1212 to schedule.
Scituate Fire Department pageCheck FEMA flood maps along the shoreline and in Humarock
Scituate's oceanfront neighborhoods and the Humarock peninsula, bounded by the North River and the Atlantic, fall within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check the flood map before you make an offer in these areas.
A fire department inspection is required before closing
Massachusetts law requires a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance inspection from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Contact the Scituate Fire Department to schedule.
Scituate Fire DepartmentAll loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Scituate?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Scituate address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Scituate: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Scituate: Eversource, with a town-owned wind turbine at the wastewater treatment plant and a solar array on the former landfill supplementing municipal power use for power.
- ElectricEversource, with a town-owned wind turbine at the wastewater treatment plant and a solar array on the former landfill supplementing municipal power use
- Natural gasEversource
- WaterScituate Water Division (Department of Public Works)
- Sewer or septicScituate Sewer Division, operating the town's wastewater treatment plant, 9 pump stations and about 52 miles of sewer main
- Trash and recyclingScituate operates a Pay-As-You-Throw transfer station: household trash must go in town-specific blue bags ($20 for ten 30-gallon bags, $10 for ten 15-gallon bags) sold at local retailers, and a vehicle sticker is required to use the facility. Private curbside haulers also operate in town.
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
Scituate Transfer Station
280 Driftway, Scituate, MA 02066 Friday-Tuesday, 8:00 am-3:30 pm (closed Wednesdays, Thursdays and holidays)
Pay-As-You-Throw blue bags: $20 for ten 30-gallon bags, $10 for ten 15-gallon bags
Transfer station detailsTown Hall offices and contacts
Scituate Town Hall is at 600 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Scituate, MA 02066. Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:30 am-4:45 pm; Tuesday 8:30 am-7:30 pm; Friday 8:30 am-11:45 am. Main line: 781-545-8700.
- Town HallMain line and website781-545-8700
- Town ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.781-545-8712
- Fire DepartmentFire suppression, emergency response, and residential smoke/CO alarm inspections for home sales.781-545-1212
- Department of Public WorksRoads, water and sewer divisions.
- Water DivisionPublic water service.
- Sewer DivisionWastewater treatment and sewer connections.
- Scituate Town LibraryThe town's public library.781-545-8727
- Board of HealthTitle 5 septic, wells and permits
Scituate, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Scituate, MA?
Scituate's FY2026 residential tax rate is $9.83 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Scituate?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $3,932 a year at $9.83 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Scituate have a split tax rate?
No. Scituate uses a single rate of $9.83 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Scituate?
The average single-family tax bill in Scituate was $10,191 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $1,036,705.
Is trash pickup curbside or pay-as-you-throw in Scituate?
The town's Transfer Station on Driftway runs a Pay-As-You-Throw system using purchased blue bags; residents can also use private curbside haulers that operate in town.
Who supplies electricity in Scituate?
Eversource delivers electricity in Scituate; the town also generates some power from a wind turbine at its wastewater treatment plant and a solar array on the former landfill.
What ZIP codes does Scituate use?
Scituate uses 02066 for the town center, Greenbush and Egypt, 02060 for North Scituate, and 02047 for Humarock.
Is there train service in Scituate?
Yes. The MBTA Greenbush Line has a station in North Scituate and terminates in Greenbush, with roughly a 45-minute ride to Boston's South Station.
How far is Scituate from Boston?
Scituate is about 25 miles southeast of downtown Boston.
What is the smoke/CO certificate process for selling a home in Scituate?
Massachusetts requires a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm inspection from the local fire department before a sale can close. Schedule it with the Scituate Fire Department.
Towns near Scituate
Neighbors of Scituate, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Scituate, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town of Scituate official website: scituatema.gov
- Transfer Station - Town of Scituate: scituatema.gov
- Utilities - Town of Scituate: scituatema.gov
- Sewer Division - Town of Scituate: scituatema.gov
- Water Division - Town of Scituate: scituatema.gov
- Fire Department - Town of Scituate: scituatema.gov
- Assessor - Town of Scituate: scituatema.gov
- The River and Town, Scituate, MA photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.