Compare towns
Halifax vs Somerset vs Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k median).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Halifax | Somerset | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
18,298 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
47±2.2 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% 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 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest 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+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$112,677±$6k 8% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Halifax and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
| Halifax and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
| Halifax and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,977 17% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Wareham |
| High school in town | None in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.