Compare towns
Mashpee vs Wareham vs Harwich vs Barnstable Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Barnstable Town has the most kids (17.2% 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 | Mashpee | Wareham | Harwich | Barnstable Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,384 |
23,302 |
13,598Lowest |
49,568Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.9±1.8 40% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
58.6±1.5Highest 47% above MA |
49.1±1.9Lowest 23% above MA |
| Harwich and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Barnstable Town and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Harwich and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Barnstable Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,299±$13k 8% below MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$96,966±$13kHighest 7% below MA |
$91,982±$6k 12% below MA |
| Harwich and Mashpee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $562,200±$29k about the MA average |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$658,600±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$602,500±$14k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,776±$330 about the MA average |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
$1,917±$127 9% above MA |
| Harwich and Barnstable Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$4,341Highest 28% below MA |
$4,189 30% below MA |
$3,975 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Barnstable Town and Harwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.5%±3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Harwich and Mashpee 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #157 of 282 in MA | #189 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mashpee | Wareham | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Barnstable |
| High school in town | Mashpee Middle-High School | Wareham Senior High | Monomoy Regional High School | Barnstable High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
8.6Lowest |
11.8Highest |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.