What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).

Methuen has the most kids (21.3% 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	Methuen
People
Population	23,302Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	31%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Methuen 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	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average
	Methuen 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	$5,061Highest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham and Methuen 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%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wareham and Methuen 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	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Wareham	Methuen
High school in town	Wareham Senior High	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	13.1Highest
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.