Compare towns
Wareham vs Dalton vs Weweantic vs Rochester
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 oldest population (median age 52.1).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Weweantic has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k 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 | Weweantic | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
6,256 |
1,452Lowest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
44.4±13.9Lowest 11% above MA |
46.5±6 16% above MA |
| Wareham and Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.2%±7.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Rochester 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% |
17.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 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% |
30.6% MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.1%±8.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Weweantic 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±$8k 24% below MA |
$62,481±$39kLowest 40% below MA |
$120,273±$12kHighest 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$420,800±$42k 25% below MA |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— | $1,432±$743 19% below MA |
| Wareham and Rochester 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 |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$3,764Lowest 37% below MA |
$6,530Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
0%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7 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 | — | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Central Berkshire | — | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Wahconah Regional High | — | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.