Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Lenox vs Brookfield 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%).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Wareham has the youngest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Lenox | Brookfield | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909Lowest |
5,079 |
3,460 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
| Lenox 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% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Brookfield and Lenox 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox 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% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
| Lenox and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
| Lenox and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$1,091±$238 38% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% 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 |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox 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 | — | #90 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lenox | Brookfield | Wareham |
| High school in town | — | Lenox Memorial High | None in town | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6Lowest |
— | 8.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.