Compare towns
Heath vs Leyden vs Wareham vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Rowe has the most kids (23% 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 | Heath | Leyden | Wareham | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
637 |
23,302Highest |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA |
| Heath and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,313±$576Lowest 25% below MA |
| Leyden and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.8% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | — | — | Wareham | Rowe |
| 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 | 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.