Compare towns
Bourne vs Everett 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Everett | Ashfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,806Lowest |
50,045Highest |
1,893 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61.2±3.5Highest 53% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±7 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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±$32kHighest 6% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
| Bourne and Everett 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 |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
| Bourne and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,835Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±20.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±20.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Everett | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.