Compare towns
Somerset vs Wareham vs Washington
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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k 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 | Somerset | Wareham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,298 |
23,302Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.2Lowest 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Wareham 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% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Somerset and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Somerset and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,800±$18k 25% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% 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 |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Washington 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 | #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 | 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.