Compare towns
Wareham vs Hampden vs Fairhaven
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%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% 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.
| Measure | Wareham | Hampden | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
4,946Lowest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA |
| Wareham and Hampden 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% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Fairhaven and Hampden 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% |
26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hampden 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Hampden 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 13% below MA |
$104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
| Hampden 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±$21k 24% below MA |
$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
| Fairhaven and Wareham 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 |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 28% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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 | #199 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Hampden-Wilbraham | 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 |
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.