Compare towns
Wareham vs Buzzards Bay vs Somerset
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Somerset has the most kids (18.9% 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 | Buzzards Bay | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
2,909Lowest |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
47±2.2Lowest 18% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay 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% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Wareham 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 |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
| Wareham and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,977Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
7.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay 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 | — | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | — | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | — | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.