Compare towns
Wareham vs Ayer vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Fairhaven has the oldest housing (typical home built 1952).
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 | Ayer | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
8,645Lowest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.5±3.4 21% above MA |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
| Ayer 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±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
| Ayer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
| Wareham and Ayer 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 |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Ayer Shirley School District | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
11.5Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.