Compare towns
Heath vs Wareham vs Rowe vs Charlemont
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%).
Wareham has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Wareham | Rowe | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
23,302Highest |
453Lowest |
1,118 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -6.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA |
59.6±6.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Charlemont and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1 MA: 17.9% |
41.1%±10.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Charlemont and Heath 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% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
$53,063±$12kLowest 49% below MA |
| Heath and Wareham 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$305,500±$52k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,313±$576 25% below MA |
$1,023±$126Lowest 42% below MA |
| Wareham and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$4,351 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest 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 | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | Rowe | Hawlemont |
| High school 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.