Scituate, MA is the quintessential New England coastal community. With a busy harbor, miles of seashore, and an excellent public school system, Scituate has gradually developed from a seasonal resort area to one of the most picturesque and desirable towns on the South Shore. Take a morning jog along the miles of sandy beaches. Sip a cocktail on the deck of one of Scituate’s many wonderful restaurants. Pose for a photograph in front of Scituate Light or Lawson Tower. Whatever your pleasure, Scituate has plenty to offer.
What are the historical origins of Scituate?
Scituate has a rich historical and cultural legacy. Residents of the Plymouth Colony, a few miles to the south, founded Scituate in 1627. The name is derived from a Wampanoag word “satuit,” which means “cold brook.” This was in reference to a stream that runs into Scituate’s inner harbor. Scituate was originally a part of the Plymouth settlement but incorporated as its own community in 1636. Several buildings in Scituate were burned during King Philip’s War, one of the first and, proportionate to the population at the time, deadliest conflicts between European settlers and first nations. Scituate also played a role in the War of 1812: Two heroic daughters of a local lighthouse keeper deterred a British naval raiding party by playing a fife and drum loudly to give the impression of a large martial force encamped in the area. Thankfully, Scituate survived the various conflicts. As with any traditional New England seaside village, the ocean has played a historically important role in sustaining local industry. Fishing became vital to the local economy, as did the harvesting of sea moss. Though Scituate Harbor still supports a small fleet of commercial vessels today, that industry too, has been mostly relegated to an aspect of the town’s past.
What are the entertainment options in Scituate?
While the vibe of the community may be laid back, there are some surprisingly sophisticated restaurants in town. Restaurant Oro serves elegantly prepared dishes featuring produce and seafood sourced locally. Galley Kitchen and Bar serves craft beer and creative small plates and entrees with a dose of good humor. And a visit to the Barker Tavern for upscale traditional-but-never-tired New England fare is always a good idea. The Mill Wharf and T.K. O’Malleys are also fun (and potentially raucous) places to have a drink on the deck and watch the boats come in. Scituate is a working harbor so you can always charter a boat and cruise out to catch your own dinner.
Is Scituate family-friendly?
Scituate has a total area of about 32 square miles but about half of that is water. It has the relaxed, beachy feel of a community much farther south toward Cape Cod. Scituate has many beautiful beaches on which to fly a kite or display your sandcastle-building prowess: Humarock, Egypt, and The Spit off Scituate (a sandbar, with mystique, at the mouth of the North and South Rivers revealed by each receding tide). It’s also fun to stroll along the beaches and admire the oceanfront vacation houses. Scituate Harbor also has family-friendly entertainment options like a small movie house and excellent ice cream at Dribbles.
With all the fun to be had, it might seem as if the locals are on permanent vacation. But Scituate residents have a deep commitment to their community as evident in their excellent school system. Scituate has a teacher for about every thirteen students. Of its high school graduates, 87.4% go on to attend college. Of all 10th graders at Scituate High School, 97% scored proficient or higher on the English portion of the MCAS standardized tests, and 93% scored proficient or higher on the Math portion.
What sorts of houses are available?
The dominant style of architecture in Scituate is the Cape Cod home. Traditional Cape Cod houses are low, broad buildings with pitched roofs and end gables and a chimney in the center of the house. Traditional Cape Cod houses are usually symmetrical and generally designed to withstand coastal storms. Many have the weathered cedar shingles so evocative of historic New England seaside villages. You’ll also find plenty of New England Colonial-style houses as well.
The median list price for a home in Scituate is $739,900. The average size is 2,480 square feet. While a few people rent, the vast majority own single-family homes of four rooms or more. The price of houses has spiked about $235,000 since a dip in July of 2015. But recent months have shown another slight dip in price so now might be a good time to get in on a market whose property values will only continue to rise.
Summer is the boom time for Scituate businesses but every season has something to offer residents of this lovely seaside town.
