What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somerset has the most kids (18.9% under 18).

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	Somerset	Wareham
People
Population	18,298Lowest	23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47±2.2Lowest 18% above MA	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA
	Wareham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	25.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wareham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wareham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA	$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA	$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA
	Wareham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA	$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA
	Wareham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,977Highest 17% below MA	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Somerset and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%	6.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wareham and Somerset 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	#132 of 282 in MA	#272 of 282 in MA
School district	Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset	Wareham
High school in town	Somerset Berkley Regional High School	Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	8.6Lowest
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.