Compare towns
Wareham vs Saugus vs Marion vs Fairhaven
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 most affordable homes ($425k median).
Saugus has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Marion has the highest household income ($143k).
Fairhaven has the most kids (16.9% 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.
| Measure | Wareham | Saugus | Marion | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302 |
28,773Highest |
5,310Lowest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
48.5±3.4 21% 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% |
15.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Fairhaven and Marion 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% |
22%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Wareham 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% |
31.4% MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest 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±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$101,539±$3k about the MA average |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$603,400±$13k 7% above MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
| Marion and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 28% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
$5,766 4% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marion and Saugus 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | — | Marion | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | — | None in town | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| 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.