Compare towns
Ayer vs Fairhaven vs Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Fairhaven has the oldest housing (typical home built 1952).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
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.
| Measure | Ayer | Fairhaven | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
15,903 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest 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 | $101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Ayer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Ayer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% 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 | $5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Fairhaven | Wareham |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Fairhaven High | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.4 |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.