Compare towns
Colrain vs Fairhaven vs Wareham vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Colrain | Fairhaven | Wareham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Lowest |
15,903 |
23,302Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 24% above MA |
48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Wareham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Colrain and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
| Oakham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 28% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,341Highest 28% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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 | — | #126 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Fairhaven | Wareham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | Fairhaven High | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
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.