What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wareham	Hopedale
People
Population	23,302Highest	6,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA	44.4±5.2Lowest 11% above MA
	Wareham and Hopedale 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%	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wareham and Hopedale 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%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale 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	$115,722±$19kHighest 11% above MA
	Hopedale and Wareham 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	$466,100±$28kHighest 17% below MA
	Hopedale and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA	$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average
	Hopedale and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA	$6,868Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±30.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham and Hopedale 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%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hopedale 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	#125 of 282 in MA
School district	Wareham	Hopedale
High school in town	Wareham Senior High	Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	10.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.