Compare towns
Wareham vs Hampton Beach vs Fairhaven vs Bourne
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 homeowners (83.5%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k 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 | Hampton Beach | Fairhaven | Bourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
2,605Lowest |
15,903 |
20,323 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 34% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
48.5±3.4Lowest 25% above U.S. |
52±1.8 34% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairhaven and Bourne 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Bourne 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% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bourne 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 12% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$91,058±$7k 13% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Bourne 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. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$446,700±$19k 34% above U.S. |
$575,600±$28kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Bourne and Hampton Beach 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. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,379±$300 about the U.S. average |
| Wareham and Bourne 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.8%±5.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bourne and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #272 of 282 in MA | — | #126 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | — | Fairhaven | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | — | Fairhaven High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.