Compare towns
Wareham vs Wolfeboro 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,302Highest |
6,571Lowest |
15,903 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±3.1 34% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
48.5±3.4Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairhaven and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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 12% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$95,965±$19kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$446,700±$19k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,504±$180Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,341 39% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±23.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #272 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wareham | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | Wareham Senior High | Kingswood Regional High School | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
11.1 |
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.