Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Wareham vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Wareham | Sutton | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
23,302Highest |
9,452 |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
49±3.2 23% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Bernardston 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$81,940±$10kLowest 21% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% 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 |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Wareham | Sutton | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.