Compare towns
West Wareham vs Sterling vs Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering West WarehamRochester
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Wareham has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Sterling | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,257Lowest |
8,183 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
51.5±1.8Lowest 29% 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% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
| Sterling 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 |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest 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% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | — | #135 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wachusett | Wareham |
| High school in town | — | None 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 |
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.