Compare towns
Carver vs Athol vs Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carver has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Carver | Athol | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,712Lowest |
12,011 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 15% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Wareham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23kHighest 12% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
| Carver and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21kHighest 23% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
| Carver and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345Highest 4% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
| Carver and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,455Highest 8% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Carver 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 | #237 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | Athol-Royalston | Wareham |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | Athol High | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.6Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.