Compare towns
Buzzards Bay vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
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 | Webster | Wareham | Bernardston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,909 |
17,748 |
23,302Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
52.1±3.1 30% 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
29.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$81,940±$10k 21% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$332,000±$15kLowest 41% 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 |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,516Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest 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 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Bernardston 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Webster | Wareham | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | — | Bartlett High School | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.