Compare towns
Hanson vs Middleton vs Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Hanson | Middleton | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
9,816Lowest |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Middleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
| Hanson and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Middleton 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Middleton | Wareham |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 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.