Compare towns
Wareham vs Ashburnham vs Fairhaven vs Bourne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k 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 | Wareham | Ashburnham | Fairhaven | Bourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
6,415Lowest |
15,903 |
20,323 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
52±1.8 30% above MA |
| Wareham and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 28% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Bourne 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Ashburnham-Westminster | Fairhaven | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Fairhaven High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.