What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

Wareham Center has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairhaven	Wareham Center
People
Population	15,903Highest	3,635Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA	50.7±6.9Highest 27% above MA
	Wareham Center and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	12%±6.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Fairhaven and Wareham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	19%±5.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven and Wareham Center 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%	20.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wareham Center and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA	$91,936±$8kLowest 12% below MA
	Fairhaven and Wareham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$425,700±$54kLowest 24% below MA
	Fairhaven and Wareham Center 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	$1,415±$537Highest 20% below MA
	Wareham Center and Fairhaven 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	$4,217Highest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.9%±27.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham Center and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest MA: 10%	5.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	72%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.5%±13Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wareham Center 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	—
School district	Fairhaven	—
High school in town	Fairhaven High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.