Compare towns
Marion vs Wareham vs West Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marion has the highest household income ($143k).
Wareham has the youngest population (median age 52.1).
West Wareham has the most affordable homes ($231k 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.
| Measure | Marion | Wareham | West Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310 |
23,302Highest |
2,257Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4 35% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
| West Wareham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±7.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Marion and West Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Wareham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±4.7Lowest 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 | $143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$58,560±$15kLowest 44% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
— |
| Wareham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766Highest 4% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,765 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±13.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion and West 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marion | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | — |
| 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.