Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Wareham vs Whately vs West Brookfield
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%).
Whately has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
West Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
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 | Whately | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
23,302Highest |
1,499Lowest |
3,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| West Brookfield 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% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Whately and Wareham 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% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
| Whately and West Brookfield 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 |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$354,000±$21kLowest 37% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Whately 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 |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% 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 |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Buzzards Bay 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and West Brookfield 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 | — | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wareham | Whately | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | None in town | 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.