Compare towns
Wareham vs Saugus vs Bourne 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 housing (typical home built 1958).
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Bourne has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Somerset has the most kids (18.9% 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 | Bourne | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302 |
28,773Highest |
20,323 |
18,298Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
44.5±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
52±1.8 30% above MA |
47±2.2 18% above MA |
| Wareham and Bourne 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% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Somerset and Saugus 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% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne 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 |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
| Saugus and Bourne 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 |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$4,977 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Somerset 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Saugus | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Saugus High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
15.5Highest |
9.8 |
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.