Compare towns
Wareham vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
5,719Lowest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA |
| Lee and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Fairhaven and Wareham 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Lee 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 13% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
| Fairhaven 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±$21k 24% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% 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 |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
| Wareham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341Highest 28% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Lee | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Lee Middle/High School | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
9.2 |
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.