Compare towns
Wareham vs Brewster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Brewster has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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.
| Measure | Wareham | Brewster | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
10,420Lowest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA |
| Brewster and Wareham 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% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Fairhaven and Wareham 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% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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 |
$103,317±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
| Brewster 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 |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,589±$465Highest 10% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
| Brewster 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 |
$4,397Highest 27% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Wareham 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% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Brewster 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Brewster | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.