Compare towns
Fall River vs Wareham vs Lynn vs Somerset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Somerset has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Fall River | Wareham | Lynn | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
23,302 |
101,709Highest |
18,298Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
47±2.2 18% above MA |
| Wareham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$418,800±$18k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,271±$93 28% below MA |
| Lynn and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$4,977 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham and Somerset 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Wareham | Lynn | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Wareham Senior High | Lynn English High | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
8.6Lowest |
15.0Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.