Compare towns
Wareham vs Plainfield vs Marion 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).
Somerset has the youngest population (median age 47).
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 | Marion | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
616Lowest |
5,310 |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
47±2.2Lowest 18% above MA |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Marion 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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±$11k 13% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$112,677±$6k 8% above MA |
| Marion and Somerset 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$418,800±$18k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,271±$93 28% below MA |
| Wareham and Plainfield 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$5,766Highest 4% below MA |
$4,977 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Marion 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 | — | #141 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | — | Marion | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | — | None in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| 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.