What stands out worked out from the figures below

Spencer has the most kids (16.4% 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	Spencer	Wareham
People
Population	12,008Lowest	23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Lowest 22% above MA	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA
	Wareham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Spencer and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wareham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wareham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA	$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA
	Wareham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA	$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA
	Wareham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA	$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,387Highest 27% below MA	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest MA: 10%	6.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest MA: 18.6%	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA	#272 of 282 in MA
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Wareham
High school in town	David Prouty High	Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Highest	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.