Compare towns
Southampton vs Ware vs Berkley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Berkley has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Southampton | Ware | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,230Lowest |
10,048Highest |
6,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Berkley and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berkley and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
| Berkley and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,470 9% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,018Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berkley and Ware 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 | #205 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southampton | Ware | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.