Compare towns
Wareham vs Harwich vs Bourne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Harwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Bourne has the most kids (14.7% 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 | Harwich | Bourne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
13,598Lowest |
20,323 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
58.6±1.5Highest 47% above MA |
52±1.8Lowest 30% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
11.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.8%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Harwich 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$96,966±$13kHighest 7% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
| Harwich 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 24% below MA |
$658,600±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$2,017±$738Highest 14% above MA |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
| Harwich and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 28% below MA |
$4,189Lowest 30% below MA |
$4,485Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Harwich 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% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Harwich and Bourne 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 | #157 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Monomoy Regional School District · Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Monomoy Regional High School | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
11.8Highest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.