Compare towns

Ashburnham vs Bourne vs Wareham vs Ashby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).

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.

MeasureAshburnhamBourneWarehamAshby
People
Population
6,415
20,323
23,302Highest
3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
MA: +7.4%
+3.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±6.3Lowest
about the MA average
52±1.8
30% above MA
52.1±3.1Highest
30% above MA
50.5±3
26% above MA
Wareham and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6Highest
MA: 19.4%
14.7%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
17%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
29.8%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
26.2%±3.9
MA: 17.9%
21.5%±4.3
MA: 17.9%
Bourne and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44%
MA: 47.3%
46%Highest
MA: 47.3%
27.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
43.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
6.6%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Bourne and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$118,809±$11kHighest
14% above MA
$91,058±$7k
12% below MA
$90,383±$11kLowest
13% below MA
$115,598±$9k
11% above MA
Ashburnham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,700±$34k
30% below MA
$575,600±$28kHighest
about the MA average
$424,500±$21k
24% below MA
$390,500±$30kLowest
31% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,807±$1kHighest
about the MA average
$1,379±$300
22% below MA
$1,504±$180
15% below MA
$1,200±$484Lowest
32% below MA
Ashburnham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,046Highest
about the MA average
$4,485
25% below MA
$4,341Lowest
28% below MA
$6,034
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
62.8%±5.5
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±23.3
MA: 51.8%
36.4%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Ashburnham and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Highest
MA: 10%
6.2%
MA: 10%
6.7%
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%
MA: 62.5%
95.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
10% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
28 min
5% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
16%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
14.9%±3.1
MA: 18.6%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
17.8%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Ashby and Ashburnham 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 #178 of 282 in MA #206 of 282 in MA #272 of 282 in MA #200 of 282 in MA
School district Ashburnham-Westminster Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical Wareham North Middlesex
High school in town None in town Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical Wareham Senior High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8Highest
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.