Compare towns
Wareham vs Dalton vs Westport
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%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Westport has the most expensive homes ($522k 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 | Dalton | Westport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
6,256Lowest |
16,484 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
50.7±1.8 27% above MA |
| Wareham and Westport 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Westport 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Westport 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±$11k 13% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$96,000±$9kHighest 8% below MA |
| Westport and Wareham 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 |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$521,900±$38kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,425±$356 19% below MA |
| Wareham and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341Highest 28% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$3,719Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±19.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Westport 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #195 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Central Berkshire | Westport |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Wahconah Regional High | Westport Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
10.9 |
11.5Highest |
| 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.