Compare towns
West Wareham vs Bellingham vs Wareham vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Wareham has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Bellingham has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Wareham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | West Wareham | Bellingham | Wareham | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,257Lowest |
17,410 |
23,302Highest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
38.2±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
| West Wareham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±7.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Bellingham and West Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| West Wareham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,560±$15kLowest 44% below MA |
$125,307±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
$450,700±$13kHighest 20% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
| Bellingham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,836±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
| Bellingham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,765 20% below MA |
$5,030 16% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Bellingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bellingham and West Wareham 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 | — | #232 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Bellingham | Wareham | Brookfield |
| High school in town | — | Bellingham High School | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.