Compare towns
Berlin vs Bourne vs Buzzards Bay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most kids (13.4% under 18).
Bourne has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Buzzards Bay has the most affordable homes ($455k 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 | Berlin | Bourne | Buzzards Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Highest |
1,806Lowest |
2,909 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
| Bourne and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Berlin and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
58.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±7 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$97,847±$32k 6% below MA |
$94,388±$12kLowest 9% below MA |
| Berlin and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
$454,500±$28kLowest 19% below MA |
| Bourne and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,484±$601Lowest 16% below MA |
| Berlin and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$3,835 36% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
81.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.