Compare towns
Sterling vs Wareham vs West Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
Wareham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
West Wareham has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Sterling | Wareham | West Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
23,302Highest |
2,257Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Lowest 29% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
| West Wareham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±7.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and West Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
35%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$58,560±$15kLowest 44% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
— |
| Sterling and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,765 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±13.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling and West 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wachusett | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.