Compare towns
Berlin vs Bourne vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Bourne has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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 | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
20,323Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
52±1.8 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bourne and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Lee 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 |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Berlin and Bourne 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 |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
| Berlin and Bourne 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 |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.