What stands out worked out from the figures below

Taunton has the most kids (21.6% under 18).

Wareham has the most people working from home (12.4%).

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	Taunton	Wareham
People
Population	60,433Highest	23,302Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	27.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wareham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,283±$7kLowest 24% below MA	$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA
	Wareham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$9kLowest 25% below MA	$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA
	Wareham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$86Lowest 25% below MA	$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA
	Wareham and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,344Highest 28% below MA	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Taunton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest MA: 10%	6.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wareham and Taunton 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	#253 of 282 in MA	#272 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton	Wareham
High school in town	Taunton High	Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	16.6Highest	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.