Compare towns
Bourne vs Brookfield vs Wareham vs Monument Beach
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Monument Beach has the most kids (17.6% under 18).
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 | Wareham | Monument Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,806Lowest |
3,460 |
23,302Highest |
3,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
46.9±6.7Lowest 17% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 6.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±7.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Monument Beach and Brookfield 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%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
32.4%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Monument Beach 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% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±5 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$77,167±$14kLowest 26% below MA |
| Bourne and Wareham 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 |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$559,900±$66k about the MA average |
| Bourne and Monument Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,704±$162Highest 3% below MA |
| Monument Beach and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,835Lowest 36% below MA |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$4,440 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±98.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Monument Beach and Wareham 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
76.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne and Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Brookfield | Wareham | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wareham Senior High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.