Compare towns
Hawley vs Wareham vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering HawleyPlainfield
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hawley has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Wareham has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Charlemont has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | Hawley | Wareham | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 277Lowest |
23,302Highest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.8±7.2 42% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±10Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hawley and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.2%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±5.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$26k 16% below MA |
$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Wareham and Hawley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,600±$38k 45% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$305,500±$52kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,097Lowest 32% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,351Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.1%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Charlemont and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±12.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Hawley and Charlemont 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 | — | Wareham | Hawlemont |
| High school 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.