Compare towns
Hancock vs Wareham vs Warwick vs Chester
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%).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Warwick | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 752Lowest |
23,302Highest |
776 |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
| Wareham and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest 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±$26kHighest 7% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
| Hancock and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21k 33% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415 28% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Wareham and Warwick 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 |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$4,522Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Wareham 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick 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 | Warwick | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.