Compare towns
Carver vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k 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 | Carver | Ware | Wareham | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,712 |
10,048Lowest |
23,302 |
24,505Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 15% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
43.4±2.1 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Middleborough 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
32%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$23k 12% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$97,056±$7kHighest 7% below MA |
| Middleborough and Carver are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $434,200±$21k 23% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA |
| Middleborough and Carver 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Carver and Middleborough 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Carver and Middleborough 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Carver | Ware | Wareham | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Carver Middle/High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Wareham Senior High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.1 |
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.