What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dudley has the most kids (20.6% 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	Dudley
People
Population	23,302Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA
	Wareham and Dudley 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	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA
	Wareham and Dudley 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	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
	Wareham and Dudley 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	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham and Dudley 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%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wareham and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Wareham	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Wareham Senior High	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	14.3Highest
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.