Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Ashfield vs Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Ashfield | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,909 |
1,893Lowest |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
| Ashfield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wareham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
| Wareham and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Buzzards Bay 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 | — | Mohawk Trail | 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.