Compare towns

Harvard vs Marion vs Wareham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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.

MeasureHarvardMarionWareham
People
Population
6,927
5,310Lowest
23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.7Lowest
10% above MA
53.8±4Highest
35% above MA
52.1±3.1
30% above MA
Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.7%±4.7
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Harvard and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.3%±2.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
27.3%±5.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
26.2%±3.9
MA: 17.9%
Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62%Highest
MA: 47.3%
46.7%
MA: 47.3%
27.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.7%±4.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$213,996±$24kHighest
106% above MA
$143,092±$30k
38% above MA
$90,383±$11kLowest
13% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$833,600±$54kHighest
48% above MA
$653,500±$47k
16% above MA
$424,500±$21kLowest
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,321±$424
25% below MA
$1,176±$516Lowest
33% below MA
$1,504±$180Highest
15% below MA
Wareham and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$5,766
4% below MA
$4,341Lowest
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±51.5
MA: 51.8%
75.8%±26.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±23.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Marion and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
9%Highest
MA: 10%
6.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
90.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
44.8%±6.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.1%±8.3
MA: 18.6%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #12 of 282 in MA #141 of 282 in MA #272 of 282 in MA
School district Harvard Marion Wareham
High school in town The Bromfield High School None in town Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0Highest
—
8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 12 photos → 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.