Compare towns
Carver vs Dedham vs Wareham vs Middleborough
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 homeowners (88.7%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Middleborough has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Dedham | Wareham | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,712Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,302 |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
43.4±2.1Lowest 9% 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Middleborough and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23k 12% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$97,056±$7k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,827±$345 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Dedham and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,455 8% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middleborough and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Carver 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | Dedham | Wareham | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | Dedham High | Wareham Senior High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
10.4 |
8.6Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.