What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shelburne has the most people working from home (17.7%).

Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shelburne	Wareham
People
Population	1,567Lowest	23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	57±7.3Highest 43% above MA	52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA
	Shelburne and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wareham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.4%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wareham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,000±$4kLowest 20% below MA	$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA
	Wareham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$405,400±$32kLowest 28% below MA	$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA
	Wareham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,080±$105Lowest 39% below MA	$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,595Highest 23% below MA	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest MA: 10%	6.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	17.7%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shelburne 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	—	#272 of 282 in MA
School district	Mohawk Trail	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

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.