Compare towns
West Wareham vs Rochester vs Wareham
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).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k median).
Wareham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
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 | Rochester | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,257Lowest |
5,837 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
46.5±6Lowest 16% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
| West Wareham and Wareham 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% |
20.1%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
20.1%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4.7 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and West 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 |
$120,273±$12kHighest 16% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,432±$743Lowest 19% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
| Wareham and Rochester 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 |
$6,530Highest 9% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Wareham 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% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| West Wareham and 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 | — | #104 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Wareham |
| High school in town | — | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.