Compare towns
Bourne vs Brookfield vs Buzzards Bay vs Ashfield
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 most expensive homes ($736k median).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Brookfield | Buzzards Bay | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,806Lowest |
3,460Highest |
2,909 |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
52.4±2.1Lowest 31% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
58.6±3.4 47% 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% |
13.4%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Brookfield and Ashfield 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% |
28.4%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,847±$32kHighest 6% below MA |
$81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$94,388±$12k 9% below MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Bourne and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay 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 |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Brookfield 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Brookfield | — | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.