Compare towns
Wareham vs Whately vs Fairhaven vs Marion
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).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).
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 | Whately | Fairhaven | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
1,499Lowest |
15,903 |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% 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% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7 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% |
24.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Highest 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% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest 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 |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
| Marion and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,118±$79 37% below MA |
$1,176±$516 33% below MA |
| Wareham and Marion 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 |
$5,027 16% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$5,766Highest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Whately 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 | — | #126 of 282 in MA | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Whately | Fairhaven | Marion |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | None in town | Fairhaven High | None in town |
| 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.