Compare towns
Bourne vs Ashfield vs Egremont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bourne has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Egremont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Bourne | Ashfield | Egremont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,806 |
1,893Highest |
1,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
56.9±13.6Lowest 42% above MA |
| Bourne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.9%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashfield and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±9.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.5% MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,847±$32k 6% below MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$101,458±$30kHighest about the MA average |
| Egremont and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $735,500±$156kHighest 31% above MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$664,900±$109k 18% above MA |
| Bourne and Egremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,349±$393Highest 23% below MA |
| Egremont and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,835 36% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$3,647Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
8.5%±40.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
44 minHighest 50% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Egremont and Ashfield 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None 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.