Compare towns

Ayer vs Wareham vs Warren

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureAyerWarehamWarren
People
Population
3,098Lowest
23,302Highest
5,009
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.1±6.9
5% above MA
52.1±3.1Highest
30% above MA
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
15.3%±5.5
MA: 17.9%
26.2%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
27.1%
MA: 47.3%
23.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±3
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,878±$17k
28% below MA
$90,383±$11kHighest
13% below MA
$66,082±$6kLowest
36% below MA
Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$444,600±$43kHighest
21% below MA
$424,500±$21k
24% below MA
$333,700±$35kLowest
41% below MA
Ayer and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,240±$169
30% below MA
$1,504±$180Highest
15% below MA
$890±$174Lowest
49% below MA
Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,911Highest
18% below MA
$4,341Lowest
28% below MA
$4,530
24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±21.9
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±23.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Wareham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.9%
MA: 10%
6.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
64.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
28 minLowest
5% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
19.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.4%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
8.5%±5.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Ayer and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 282 in MA #272 of 282 in MA #165 of 282 in MA
School district — Wareham Quaboag Regional
High school in town — Wareham Senior High Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.6Lowest
10.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.