Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Marion vs Wareham vs Bernardston
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%).
Marion has the highest household income ($143k).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 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 | Marion | Wareham | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
5,310 |
23,302Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
53.8±4 35% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
49±3.2Lowest 23% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Marion 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% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bernardston and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Marion 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% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Marion 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 |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,283±$553 27% 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 |
$5,766Highest 4% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion 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%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion 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 | — | #141 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Marion | Wareham | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.