Compare towns
Westport vs Wareham vs Fairhaven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westport has the most expensive homes ($522k median).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Fairhaven has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Westport | Wareham | Fairhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,484 |
23,302Highest |
15,903Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±1.8 27% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA |
| Wareham and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Fairhaven and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Westport and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,000±$9kHighest 8% below MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
| Westport and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,900±$38kHighest 7% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$356 19% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
| Wareham and Westport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,719 38% below MA |
$4,341Highest 28% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±19.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westport and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham and Fairhaven 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 | #195 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #126 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Westport | Wareham | Fairhaven |
| High school in town | Westport Middle-High School | Wareham Senior High | Fairhaven High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
8.6Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.