Compare towns
Wareham vs Putnam vs Fairhaven
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 most homeowners (83.5%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Fairhaven has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Putnam | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
9,292Lowest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.5±3.4 25% 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Fairhaven 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wareham and Putnam 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 12% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$446,700±$19kHighest 34% 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Putnam School District | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Putnam High School | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
9.5 |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.