What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wareham Center has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

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	Wareham Center	Fairhaven
People
Population	3,635Lowest	15,903Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.7±6.9Highest 27% above MA	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA
	Wareham Center and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±6.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Fairhaven and Wareham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±5.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven and Wareham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wareham Center and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,936±$8kLowest 12% below MA	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA
	Fairhaven and Wareham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,700±$54kLowest 24% below MA	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA
	Fairhaven and Wareham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$537Highest 20% below MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
	Wareham Center and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,217Highest 30% below MA	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.9%±27.1Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham Center and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	21.5%±13Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wareham Center and Fairhaven 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	—	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Fairhaven
High school in town	—	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.