Compare towns

Hampton vs Rochester vs Wareham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Rochester has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).

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.

MeasureHamptonRochesterWareham
People
Population
16,426
5,837Lowest
23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
46.5±6Lowest
20% above U.S.
52.1±3.1
34% above U.S.
Hampton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.2%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wareham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$120,273±$12kHighest
49% above U.S.
$90,383±$11kLowest
12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$599,100±$31kHighest
80% above U.S.
$424,500±$21kLowest
28% above U.S.
Rochester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,432±$743Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,504±$180
6% above U.S.
Hampton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$6,530
109% above U.S.
$4,341Lowest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±10.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.4%±23.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #31 of 120 in NH #104 of 282 in MA #272 of 282 in MA
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester Wareham
High school in town Winnacunnet High School Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Highest
9.1
8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.