Compare towns
Dalton vs Buzzards Bay vs Wareham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dalton | Buzzards Bay | Wareham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
2,909Lowest |
23,302Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% 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 | $4,276 29% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,341Highest 28% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Lee 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | — | #272 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | — | Wareham | Lee |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | Wareham Senior High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
9.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.