Compare towns
Wareham vs Dunbarton vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Dunbarton | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
3,097Lowest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
48±3.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
48.5±3.4 25% above U.S. |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wareham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,383±$11kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$95,965±$19k 19% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$446,700±$19k 34% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 39% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Dunbarton School District | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.