Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Wareham vs Brookfield vs Sheffield
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%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 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 | Wareham | Brookfield | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909Lowest |
23,302Highest |
3,460 |
3,330 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
48.2±8Lowest 21% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield 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% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Brookfield and Sheffield 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% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest 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±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Sheffield 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 |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% 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 |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
| Sheffield and Wareham 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 |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wareham | Brookfield | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.