Compare towns
West Wareham vs Bourne vs Cheshire
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
Cheshire has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Bourne | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,257Lowest |
20,323Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
52±1.8Lowest 30% above MA |
53.7±4.5 34% above MA |
| West Wareham and Cheshire 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% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cheshire 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% |
29.8%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| West Wareham and Cheshire 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% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Cheshire 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 |
$91,058±$7kHighest 12% below MA |
$69,803±$14k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$268,200±$48k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,379±$300 22% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,765Highest 20% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Bourne 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% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| West Wareham and Bourne 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 | — | #206 of 282 in MA | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.