Compare towns
Wareham vs Needham vs Needham vs Somerset
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 oldest population (median age 52.1).
Somerset has the most homeowners (86.9%).
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 | Needham | Needham | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302 |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
18,298Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47±2.2 18% above MA |
| Wareham and Somerset 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Somerset 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$112,677±$6k 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,977 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #272 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Needham | — | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Needham High | — | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.