Compare towns
Bourne vs Buzzards Bay vs Marion
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).
Buzzards Bay has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
Marion has the most kids (16.7% 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 | Buzzards Bay | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,806Lowest |
2,909 |
5,310Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
53.8±4Lowest 35% above MA |
| Bourne and Buzzards Bay 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% |
6.7%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Buzzards Bay 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% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Marion 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 |
$94,388±$12kLowest 9% below MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
| Marion 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 |
$454,500±$28kLowest 19% below MA |
$653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
| Bourne and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Marion 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 |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,766Highest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Buzzards Bay 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% |
7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marion 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 | — | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Marion |
| High school 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.