Compare towns
Bourne vs Buzzards Bay vs Upton 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).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
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 | Upton | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,806Lowest |
2,909 |
8,189Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% 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% |
6.7%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Bourne 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±$12k 9% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Upton 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±$28k 19% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
| Bourne and Upton 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,197 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Upton 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | — | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.