Compare towns

Buzzards Bay vs Whately vs Wareham

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).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k 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.

MeasureBuzzards BayWhatelyWareham
People
Population
2,909
1,499Lowest
23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.4%
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
54.4±5.9Highest
36% above MA
49.3±6.7Lowest
23% above MA
52.1±3.1
30% 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%
16.4%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.4
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%±5.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
24.5%±6.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
26.2%±3.9
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%
47.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
27.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,388±$12k
9% below MA
$116,563±$15kHighest
12% above MA
$90,383±$11kLowest
13% below MA
Whately and Buzzards Bay 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
$431,500±$22k
23% below MA
$424,500±$21kLowest
24% 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
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
$1,504±$180Highest
15% 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
$5,027Highest
16% below MA
$4,341
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±20.3
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±23.3Highest
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%Highest
MA: 10%
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1958
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
10% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
17.4%±6.3
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±8.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Whately 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
School district — Whately Wareham
High school in town — None in town Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.