Compare towns
Wareham vs Plainfield vs Fairhaven vs Somerset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Somerset has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Plainfield | Fairhaven | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
15,141Lowest |
15,903 |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.5±3.4 25% above U.S. |
47±2.2 21% above U.S. |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.3%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,383±$11k 12% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$95,965±$19k 19% above U.S. |
$112,677±$6kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Somerset and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$418,800±$18k 26% above U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,271±$93 10% below U.S. |
| Wareham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 39% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,977Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somerset and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wareham and Somerset 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #126 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Plainfield School District | Fairhaven | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Plainfield High School | Fairhaven High | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
10.3 |
11.4 |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.