Compare towns
Hancock vs Wareham vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Chesterfield has the most homeowners (92.2%).
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 | Hancock | Wareham | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 752Lowest |
23,302Highest |
1,055 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
44.3±7.6Lowest 11% above MA |
| Wareham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±5.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26k 7% below MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$103,967±$11kHighest about the MA average |
| Chesterfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21kLowest 33% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$390,800±$48k 30% below MA |
| Wareham and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415 28% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,078±$409Lowest 39% below MA |
| Wareham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$5,969Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
92.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.4%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Chesterfield 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hancock | Wareham | Chesterfield-Goshen |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.