Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Springfield 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
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Middleborough has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Fairhaven | Springfield | Wareham | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,903Lowest |
154,749Highest |
23,302 |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
32% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$97,056±$7kHighest 7% below MA |
| Middleborough and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$468,700±$18kHighest 17% below MA |
| Middleborough and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,706±$72Highest 3% below MA |
| Middleborough and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$6,023Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs 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 | 29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middleborough 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Springfield | Wareham | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Springfield Central High | Wareham Senior High | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.2Highest |
8.6Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.