What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

Chester has the most kids (24.1% 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	Chester
People
Population	23,302Highest	1,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA	45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA
	Wareham and Chester 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%	24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	27.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA	$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA
	Wareham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA	$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA	$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA	$4,522Highest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Chester and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest MA: 10%	1.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	32 minHighest 9% above MA
Work from home	12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wareham and Chester 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	—
School district	Wareham	Gateway
High school in town	Wareham Senior High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6	—
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.