Compare towns
Washington vs Wareham vs Buzzards Bay vs Florida
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Wareham has the youngest population (median age 52.1).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Washington | Wareham | Buzzards Bay | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526Lowest |
23,302Highest |
2,909 |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1 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+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 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+ | 32.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% 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 | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% 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±$601 16% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% 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 | $4,381Highest 27% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$3,405 43% below MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 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 | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
7.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest 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 | — | Florida |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.