Compare towns
Rochester vs Dedham 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
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
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 | Rochester | Dedham | Wareham | West Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,837 |
25,237Highest |
23,302 |
2,257Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6 16% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
| West Wareham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±7.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Rochester and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
35%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±4.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$58,560±$15kLowest 44% below MA |
| Dedham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31k 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,765 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±13.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Dedham | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Dedham High | Wareham Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
10.4Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.