What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).

Bourne has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bolton	Bourne
People
Population	5,737Lowest	20,323Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	46%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bourne and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA	$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA	$575,600±$28kLowest about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA
	Bolton and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bourne and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	6.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#28 of 282 in MA	#206 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.