Compare towns
Wareham vs Dunbarton vs Fairhaven vs Marion
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 most affordable homes ($425k median).
Dunbarton has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Marion has the most people working from home (20.1%).
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 | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
3,097Lowest |
15,903 |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 34% above U.S. |
48±3.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
48.5±3.4 25% above U.S. |
53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Marion and Wareham 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% |
16.7%±4.7 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%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marion 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marion 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±$11kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$95,965±$19k 19% above U.S. |
$143,092±$30kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Marion and Dunbarton 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±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$446,700±$19k 34% above U.S. |
$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,176±$516 17% below U.S. |
| Wareham and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 39% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,766 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Dunbarton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%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% |
90.8% 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. |
1962 18 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. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marion and Dunbarton 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 | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Dunbarton School District | Fairhaven | Marion |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Fairhaven High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.