Compare towns
Washington vs Wareham vs Peru vs Middlefield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Peru has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Peru | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526 |
23,302Highest |
630 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Peru and Washington 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% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Peru 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
| Middlefield and Washington 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±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
— | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Wareham 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield 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 | 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.