Compare towns
Northfield vs Wareham vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Northfield | Wareham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,872 |
23,302Highest |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2Lowest 22% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
49±2.3 23% above MA |
| Wareham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
| Northfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
| Wareham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 23% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Northfield 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Wareham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.