Compare towns
Berkley vs Bourne vs Wareham vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the highest household income ($144k).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Berkley | Bourne | Wareham | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,829 |
20,323 |
23,302Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
52±1.8 30% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Wareham and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 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+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
| Berkley and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Bourne and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018 about the MA average |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest 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 | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Wareham | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| 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.