Compare towns
Wareham vs Washington vs Buzzards Bay
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 youngest population (median age 52.1).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Washington | Buzzards Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
526Lowest |
2,909 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
| Washington and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Washington and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Buzzards Bay 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% |
32.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
| Washington and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay 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 15% below MA |
— | $1,484±$601Lowest 16% below MA |
| Wareham and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 28% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Washington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Wareham | — | — |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.