Compare towns
Becket vs Wareham vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Wareham has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Becket | Wareham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962 |
23,302Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Lowest 24% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Becket and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29kLowest 23% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Washington and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
— |
| Becket and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Becket and Washington 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.