Compare towns
Somerset vs Wareham vs Dighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k median).
Wareham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Somerset | Wareham | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,298 |
23,302Highest |
8,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.2 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
42.7±2.9Lowest 7% 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%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dighton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest 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% |
35.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest 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±$6k 8% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
| Dighton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
| Wareham and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,977 17% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,452Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 12%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest 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 | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Wareham | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | Wareham Senior High | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
8.6Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.